Height: 8’ to 15’ Spread: 6’ to 15’ Light Needs: partial shade Water: average to moist Flower color: yellow Bloom time: March to April
Spicebush is a deciduous shrub that produces small yellow flowers in early spring. Fruit-bearing or "female" shrubs produce bright red drupes that have a peppery taste. This plant has good, yellow fall color. It is not very drought tolerant. It is a fine addition to any garden - formal or naturalistic. Pollen-bearing and fruit-bearing flowers are borne on different plants. One of each is necessary for fruit production. This is a host for caterpillars of the spicebush and tiger swallowtail butterflies. The red fruits are eaten by birds. It has some resistance to deer damage.
We do not control or remove spicebush swallowtail caterpillars at the nursery. Caterpillars and/or evidence of feeding may be found on the sale plants.
