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| On the southern edge of the arboretum, we have two new recuits: a spice bush (Lindera benzoin) and an elm (Ulmus sp.). Last year the young plants volunteered in a bed of fringe trees (Chionanthus virginicus). After thriving for many years, the grouping of fringe trees took a turn for the worse during 2019: we had to completely remove one tree this year, and the two remaining individuals are not particularly excellent examples of the species. With that being said, we need something new in this location, and luckily, we have two vigorous volunteers to fill out the established bed. This post is devoted to the spice bush. |
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| Pictured center, next to the ruler, we see a spice bush (Lindera benzoin). It stands at 3 feet, 5 inches. It volunteered sometime before the summer of 2022, and its rapid growth was observed over the following months. |
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| This is a spice 'bush,' although it looks to be more like a young tree, with one major stem supporting large leaves and a few delicate branches. |
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| This spice bush is developing quickly; it didn't waste any time this spring putting out fresh, green growth. |
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| The floppy, fragrant leaves alternate along the stem. |
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| The leaf shape is obovate with a pointed tip and wavy margins. This leaf measures 5½ inches long, and the petiole is an additional ¾ inch. The upper surface is smooth. |
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| Underneath, it's a little fuzzy. Crumpling these leaves produces a pleasant aroma, something like lemon and certainly spicy. |
