Maryland Native Plants for Fragarance

Lindera benzoin

Lindera benzoin, Spicebush, is a native deciduous shrub. Every spring, clusters of tiny, aromatic flowers appear along the branches, before the foliage emerges. Spicebush is dioecious (male and female flowers on separate plants). Flowers of female plants grow bright red drupes, which mature in the fall. The leaves turn bright yellow in autumn. Spicebush can grow best in woodland gardens but is tolerant of wet soil and can be used in rain gardens. It tolerates full sun to part shade.

LGS Notes:

Spicebush is beautiful, bright shrub. It attracts the spicebush swallowtail butterfly as the larva mainly eat its leaves. I love smelling the flowers and leaves, even the bark is fragrant in the winter! -Jessie