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Lauraceae
Lindera

not marked as a favorite taxon Lindera benzoin (Linnaeus) Blume. Common name: Northern Spicebush, Benzoin, Benjamin-bush. Phenology: Mar-Apr; Aug-Sep. Habitat: Rich alluvial forests, mesic forests on slopes with circumneutral soils, bottomlands, swamps. Distribution: ME, s. ON, and MI, south to Panhandle FL and e. TX; disjunct in Edwards Plateau of c. TX.

Glossary (beta!)

Origin/Endemic status: Native

Taxonomy Comments: Some floristic treatments recognize two varieties based on whether the leaves and young twigs are pubescent (var. pubescens) or not (var. benzoin) but the varieties so recognized overlap broadly in distribution; it seems best to regard this as mere variation within the species.

Other Comments: Where occurring on upland slopes, L. benzoin is an excellent indicator of base-rich soils, generally derived from calcareous sedimentary rocks or mafic metamorphic or igneous rocks.

Synonymy ⓘ: = Ar, Can, Fl2, FNA3, GrPl, GW2, K4, Mi, Mo3, NE, NS, NY, Pa, POWO, RAB, Tat, Tn, Va, W, WH3, WV, Wofford (1983); = Benzoin aestivale (L.) Nees — S, S13; = Benzoin benzoin (L.) J.M.Coult.; = Laurus benzoin L. > Lindera benzoin (L.) Blume var. benzoin — AqW, C, F, G, Il; > Lindera benzoin (L.) Blume var. pubescens (E.J.Palmer & Steyerm.) Rehder — C, F, G, Il, NcTx, Tx. Basionym: Laurus benzoin L. 1753

Links to other floras: = Lindera benzoin - FNA3

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Wetland Indicator Status:

  • Atlantic and Gulf Coastal Plain: FACW
  • Eastern Mountains and Piedmont: FAC
  • Great Plains: FACW
  • Midwest: FACW
  • Northcentral & Northeast: FACW

Heliophily ⓘ: 3

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image #1 of Lindera benzoin© Bruce A. Sorrie | Original Image ⭷
image #2 of Lindera benzoin© Keith Bradley | Original Image ⭷
image #3 of Lindera benzoin© margaretcurtin, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC) source CC-BY-NC, permission granted to NCBG | Original Image ⭷
image #4 of Lindera benzoin© Janet Wright, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Janet Wright source CC-BY-NC, permission granted to NCBG | Original Image ⭷
image #5 of Lindera benzoin© Scott Ward | Original Image ⭷
image #6 of Lindera benzoin© abelkinser, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC) source CC-BY-NC, permission granted to NCBG | Original Image ⭷
image #7 of Lindera benzoin© Scott Ward, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Scott Ward source CC-BY | Original Image ⭷
image #8 of Lindera benzoin© Sequoia Janirella Wrens, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Sequoia Janirella Wrens source CC-BY-NC, permission granted to NCBG | Original Image ⭷
image #9 of Lindera benzoin© Shaun Pogacnik, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Shaun Pogacnik source CC-BY-NC, permission granted to NCBG | Original Image ⭷
image #10 of Lindera benzoin© margaretcurtin, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC) source CC-BY-NC, permission granted to NCBG | Original Image ⭷
image #11 of Lindera benzoin© Eric M Powell, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Eric M Powell source CC-BY-NC, permission granted to NCBG | Original Image ⭷
image #12 of Lindera benzoin© Scott Ward, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Scott Ward source CC-BY | Original Image ⭷
image #13 of Lindera benzoin© Scott Ward, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Scott Ward source CC-BY | Original Image ⭷
image #14 of Lindera benzoin© Collectors SOS | Original Image ⭷
image #15 of Lindera benzoin© Richard & Teresa Ware CC-BY-NC, permission granted to NCBG | Original Image ⭷
image #16 of Lindera benzoin© Grant Morrow Parkins | Original Image ⭷
image #17 of Lindera benzoin© Scott Ward | Original Image ⭷
image #18 of Lindera benzoin© Grant Morrow Parkins | Original Image ⭷
image #19 of Lindera benzoin© Collectors SOS | Original Image ⭷

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Horticultural Information

NCBG trait

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Height: 6-9 ft.

plant sale text: Smooth northern spicebush is a welcome harbinger of spring, featuring axillary clusters of tiny yellow flowers before the leaves appear. Female plants produce red fruits in the autumn. All parts of the plant have a lemon scent when broken, hence its common name of spicebush. Rarely offered for sale, though it is easy to grow in average to moist soil. Host plant for spicebush butterflies and supports up to 9 species of lepidoptera. Used medicinally by several tribes. Its red berries are important food for birds during fall migration.

bloom table text: Smooth northern spicebush is a welcome harbinger of spring, featuring axillary clusters of tiny yellow flowers before the leaves appear. Female plants produce red fruits in the autumn. All parts of the plant have a lemon scent when broken, hence its common name of spicebush. Rarely offered for sale, though it is easy to grow in average to moist soil. Host plant for spicebush butterflies and supports up to 9 species of lepidoptera. Used medicinally by several tribes. Its red berries are important food for birds during fall migration.

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native range: eastern North America



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