Submitted by Betsy Washington, Northern Neck Chapter, Virginia Native Plant Society
Spicebush, Lindera benzoin
The March blooming spicebush, Lindera benzoin, a deciduous shrub is one of the very earliest plants to bloom in our local woodlands, providing fragrance, color and nectar in late winter-early spring when most of our woodland plants are still gray and dormant. Spicebush is in the laurel family, known for such aromatic plants as cinnamon, bay and camphor.
All parts of the plant have a delightful spicy fragrance, from the delicate clusters of spring flowers, to bruised leaves and bark, and even the fruit have a spicy taste and fragrance providing an easy way to…[to-view-more]