Guide to Lindera Benzoin: How to Grow Spicebush at Home

Spicebush (Lindera benzoin) is a deciduous shrub in the lauraceae plant family. It is native to eastern North America in places like Maine, Texas, Florida, and New York. Other common names for spicebush include “northern spicebush” and “wild allspice.” When you dry spicebush bark, berries, or leaves and crush them, they emit a spicy fragrance similar to allspice.

Spicebush has deep green leaves and can grow anywhere between six and 12 feet tall. They are dioecious, meaning that they produce both male flowers and female flowers on separate plants. Male plants sprout tiny yellow flowers, and female flowers sprout bright red berries called drupes which contain seeds that can be planted to propagate the plant.

Spicebush is not commercially available in spice form, but you can grow this hardy and low-maintenance plant easily at home. Here are a few common uses for spicebush.

1. 1. They attract pollinators. Spicebush swallowtail butterflies use this shrub as a host plant to feed when they are in their larval stage. This makes spicebush a great plant to build a butterfly garden in order to attract pollinators so that your plants can grow.
2. 2. They can make cooking spices. You can dry and crush the ripe drupes of spicebush to use as a seasoning substitute for allspice.
3. 3. They can make a garden border. Use this plant to create a border for walkways or garden beds. The spicebush’s showy flowers can make colorful, eye-catching additions to your landscaping.

Spicebush thrives best in USDA hardiness zones 4 through 9, both in the eastern United States and parts of the midwest. Spicebush can be planted most times throughout the year, and germination will take place the following spring. Flowers will bloom in early spring in established plants, while the red berries will emerge in the summer.

Spicebush is a low-maintenance plant that is relatively easy to grow from seed, which is the most common method of propagation. Follow this step-by-step guide to learn how to grow your own spicebush plant.

1. 1. Choose your planting spot. Spicebush may tolerate a range of conditions, but they thrive in moist-to-wet soil that is well-draining with a pH between 5.0 and 8.0. For the best fall colors, the spot should also receive full sun, though spicebush will still grow in an area with partial shade.
2. 2. Plant your seeds. You can harvest drupes (which serve as the seeds) from spicebush plants in the late summer or early fall after they’ve turned red. Plant the seeds in the ground about one-fourth of an inch below the soil surface.
3. 3. Water occasionally. Spicebush enjoys moist soil, though it is relatively hardy in most soil conditions. Water it a few times a week when it is establishing its roots. Once your bush is established, you can scale your watering back to a few inches every month to give this plant the moisture it needs.
4. 4. Check for diseases. Laurel wilt is a fungal disease carried by the ambrosia beetle that affects other laurel plant types such as sassafras and redbay shrubs. There is no way to treat or protect your spicebush from this disease, but it is important to prevent your infected plants from coming into contact with other plants if you detect the fungus.
5. 5. Harvest your spicebush. Wait until your spicebush berries have turned red before you harvest them. Remove the flesh and plant the fresh seeds right away. Seeds should not be allowed to dry out before planting.

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