Spice Bush (Lindera benzoin)

Spice bush (Lindera benzoin) fruits are ripening in northwest Louisiana. The youngest spice bush in the arboretum collection has a surprising number of fruits.

 

In 2022, this spice bush volunteered among a grouping of fringe trees (Chionanthus virginicus). This photo was taken the following summer in 2023. At that time, this spice "bush" had one primary stem, suggesting that it might develop a tree habit.

 

Today, the spice bush looks decidedly more like a 'bush' than a small tree. In this photo, we see several distinct stems.

 

Our young spice bush is tagged. Not every entry in the arboretum catalogue has a sign―that would be too much clutter in the landscape. There are already two spice bush shrubs with signs in the arboretum.

 

Numerous fruits are hiding among the leaves.

Sitting *under* the shrub, it's much easier to see the fruits.

Fruits appear in clusters along the branch.

The bright red fruits are ⅜ inches long. According to North Carolina State Extension, the fruits are edible.

The large, green drooping leaves come to a point and the leaf-base is asymmetrical. Both leaf and fruit have a spicy fragrance.

Spice Bush (Lindera benzoin)

The heat wave continues in Caddo parish. Daily high temperatures are over 100℉ (reaching above 110 with the head index) and with no rain. Luckily, the arboretum's irrigation system has seen improvements over the past week, so the plants in the arboretum have had some relief. Unfortunately for some plants, the hot, dry weather has resulted in significant damage. The spice bush (Lindera benzoin) is one species of plant that has suffered a great deal under the current local weather conditions.

 

There are two mature spice bushes in the arboretum collection. A few greenish leaves remain on one of the bushes, while the other bush only retains its brown, crinkled remnants of leaves.

 

The spice bush is pictured center. It doesn't have any green foliage; it isn't photogenic, to say the least. In recent history, it was a large, healthy shrub, actively growing in the shade of a white oak (Quercus alba), standing on the edge of the arboretum's western flood plain.

 

There is a brick border that encircles the once vibrant shrub, which has been growing in this location since 1996. It was collected from a roadside in Webster Parish. Since this was a mature, established shrub, it is disheartening that it could not endure our current heat wave. Perhaps the white oak simply out-competed it for water? A famous film quote about "drinking someone's milkshake" comes to mind.

 

From another angle, we can appreciate the numerous bare branches.

 

Shriveled, crinkly leaves hold fast to some twigs. Manipulating the tips of the branches results in snapping.

 

The twigs on this spice bush lack all greenness and flexibility, suggesting that most, if not all, of the shrub is dead.

 

By comparison, the other mature spice bush shows some signs of life. In this photo, we see glimpses of green leaves, one green fruit, and green buds. The twigs on this shrub are springy. So, even though this spice bush doesn't look good this week, it shows signs of being well enough to leaf out next spring. Let's keep it watered and hope for the best.

 

 

New Recruit: Spice Bush (Lindera benzoin)

 

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.

 

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.

 

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.

 

 

This spice bush is developing quickly; it didn't waste any time this spring putting out fresh, green growth.

 

 

The floppy, fragrant leaves alternate along the stem.

 

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.

 

Underneath, it's a little fuzzy. Crumpling these leaves produces a pleasant aroma, something like lemon and certainly spicy.

 

 

 

 

Spice Bush (Lindera benzoin)

There are a few fruits on the spice bush (Lindera benzoin). If you can find these tiny red-orange drupes, take them, and grow your own spice bush. They are a nice plant to have in a butterfly garden.

Spice bush fruits are very small, measuring under a half inch in length.

Ripening spice bush fruit

Springtime Flowers

Lindera benzoin