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Lindera benzoin
Spicebush is a medium-sized deciduous shrub growing to 5 m tall. The leaves are alternate, simple, 6–15 cm long and 2–6 cm broad, oval or obovate and broadest beyond the middle of the leaf. They are very aromatic when crushed, hence the common names and the specific epithet "benzoin." The flowers grow in showy yellow clusters that appear in early spring, before the leaves begin to grow. The fruit is a berrylike red drupe, rich in lipid, about 1 cm long and is highly prized by birds. It has a "turpentine-like" taste and aromatic scent, and contains a large seed. Spicebush is dioecious (plants are either male or female), so that both sexes are needed in the garden if one wants berries with viable seed.
Typically found only in the understory of moist thickets. This one was photographed at the Stevens Creek Heritage Preserve in McCormick County, SC.
Spicebush is a favorite food plant of two handsome lepidopterous insects: the spicebush swallowtail Papilio troilus, and the promethea silkmoth, Callosamia promethea.
Spotted on Mar 10, 2013
Submitted on Mar 16, 2013
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