Description
Spicebush is a wonderful woodland shrub that is underutilized in the landscape. Early spring yellow flowers are reminiscent of the nonnative forsythia. This highly fragrant plant is rarely bothered by deer and is the larval host of the spicebush swallowtail catepillar. Plants are dioecious and both flowers are required for the red drupe that songbirds favor. Site preference is for full sun to full shade in moist, well drained soils. This plant will not thrive in full sun exposed to drought and heavy clay.
