×2Wildlife
- Feeds birds
- Pollinators
- Butterflies & moths
Spicebush swallowtail caterpillars feed on the leaves, early flowers feed pollinators, and migrating songbirds eat the high-fat red berries.
Ships bare root
Native
Mature plant shown. Yours ships dormant and bare root.
What arrives
1 dormant bare-root plant, about 18–24 in tall
- No leaves, no pot, no soil. Roots packed moist.
- Ships in your zone's planting window.
- Leafs out about 4–8 weeks after planting.
Native shrub
Spicebush
Lindera benzoin
- Ships 18–24 in tall
- 1 plant, bare root
- Zones 4–9
- Grows 6–12 ft
$11.95Was $12.95Save 7%
1.0 out of 5 · 1 reviewsThe quick answer
Spicebush is a native shrub for USDA zones 4-9 that grows 6-12 ft tall and wide in part shade, or full sun with moist soil. Buy it for very early yellow spring flowers, aromatic leaves, yellow fall color and as the host plant for spicebush swallowtail butterflies. Plant three or more for red berries.
When it ships to you
Zone scheduleHow many?
This plant needs a partner. Spicebush has separate male and female plants, and only females make berries; seedlings are unsexed, so plant three or more within about 50 ft to get at least one of each.
Expert recommendedPollination partners we sell
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×2Plant 2 SpicebushEach seedling is genetically different, so two or more pollinate each other.
Planting a hedge or row?
Free shipping on orders $75+$75
Healthy deliveryOr we replace it
Shipped dormantTimed to your zone
1-year warrantyStore credit, terms
Spicebush plant profile
Mature size6–12 ft tall · 6–12 ft wide
Typical (6 ft)Up to 12 ft
Open, rounded, multi-stemmed shrub.
USDA hardiness zones4–9
Sun & growth
SlowMediumFast
Best in part shade; tolerates full shade, and full sun if soil stays moist.
SoilpH 5.0–6.5
4 acidic6.59 alkaline
Prefers moist, acidic, well-drained soil and tolerates wet soil; moderately sensitive to drought.
Native to the USPlant two or moreYellow fall color
Flowers & fruit
Fragrant yellow flower clusters bloom on bare stems in early spring; female plants bear bright red berries in fall.
Leaves & fall color
Yellow in fall. Aromatic, oval green leaves stay green late and turn yellow in late fall.
Pests & disease
No serious pest or disease problems.
Pruning
Little pruning needed; remove dead or crossing stems right after flowering.
Pollination
One Spicebush won't give you much of a crop. Two will.
Male and female flowers are on separate plants, and only females make berries; plant three or more seedlings within about 50 feet to get both. Shipping on one plant is $9.95 and on two it's $10.95, so the second plant adds just $1 in shipping.
Bare root vs potted
Skip the garden-center markup.
Garden centers buy young plants, pot them, grow them another season and mark them up. We ship yours dormant and bare root, timed to your planting window.
Bare root, from us$11.95ships dormant
Example: 3-gal potted American hazelnut$70–$140online retail prices checked Oct 2026
A year with your Spicebush
SPRINGFragrant yellow flower clusters on bare stems in early spring
SUMMERAromatic green leaves; host for spicebush swallowtail caterpillars
LATE SUMMERBerries form on female plants, hidden by leaves
FALLLeaves turn yellow late; bright red berries show on female plants
Questions people ask about Spicebush
Do I need a male and female spicebush?
Yes, for berries. Spicebush has separate male and female plants, so plant three or more seedlings to get both.
Does spicebush grow in shade?
Yes. It grows best in part shade and tolerates full shade, or full sun if the soil stays moist.
Why is it called spicebush?
The leaves, twigs and berries smell spicy when crushed; Native Americans used the dried berries as a spice and the leaves for tea.
What butterfly uses spicebush?
The spicebush swallowtail lays its eggs on spicebush, and its caterpillars feed on the leaves.
Will spicebush grow in wet soil?
Yes. It grows naturally along streams and in bottomlands and handles wet soil better than drought.
What arrives when I order spicebush?
A dormant bare-root seedling, 18-24 in tall, with no leaves. Its sex is unknown until it flowers, so order several for berries.
Plant it in 4 steps
- Soak the roots in cold water overnight before planting.
- Dig twice as wide as the roots; plant at the depth it grew.
- Water, then mulch. No fertilizer the first season.
- Plant its partner nearby.
Customer Reviews
Based on 1 review
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Neither plant came out of dormancy or they were just dead when I got them. Huge waste of money, will never order again