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Lindera benzoin

spice bush

Sold by 5 nurseries

  • Other common names spice bush
    Benjamin bush

    fever bush
    spicebush
    wild American allspice

    see more

  • Synonyms Benzoin odoriferum
    Benzoin aestivale

  • Family Lauraceae

  • Genus Lindera can be deciduous or evergreen trees or shrubs with aromatic leaves and small star-shaped dioecious flowers in axillary umbels in spring followed, on pollinated female plants, by glossy berries

  • Details A deciduous, rounded shrub to a height of 3m, with upright branches and aromatic oval-shaped dark green leaves that turn yellow in autumn. Tiny star-shaped yellow flowers appear in spring, followed by red berries on female plants

  • Plant range E USA

Characteristics

  • Foliage Deciduous

  • Habit Bushy

  • Fragrance Foliage

  • Hardiness

    Hardiness ratings

    All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets

    • H1a - Under glass all year (>15C)
    • H1b - Can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
    • H1c - Can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
    • H2 - Tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
    • H3 - Hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
    • H4 - Hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
    • H5 - Hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
    • H6 - Hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
    • H7 - Hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20)

    H6

Colour

Sunlight

  • Partial shade

  • Aspect East-facing or North-facing or West-facing

  • Exposure Sheltered

Soil

  • Clay

    Clay

  • Loam

    Loam

  • Sand

    Sand

  • MoistureMoist but well-drained

  • SoilClay, Loam, Sand

  • pHAcid

Size

  • Ultimate height 2.5-4 metres

  • Ultimate spread 2.5-4 metres

  • Time to ultimate height 5-10 years

How to grow

Cultivation Grow in moist, but well-drained acidic soil in partial shade

Propagation Propagate by greenwood cuttings in early summer or sow seed in a coldframe/sheltered place in autumn

Suggested planting locations and garden types Flower borders and beds Low Maintenance Wall-side Borders Cottage & Informal Garden

How to care

Pruning Pruning group 1

Pests Generally pest-free

Diseases Generally disease-free

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