Northern Spice Bush For Sale
The northern spice bush is popular with gardeners and landscapers because of its pleasant scent. It's often referred to as the spicebush or wild allspice. Its botanical name is Lindera Benzoin, and it's part of the Laural or Lauraceae family, which includes the bay laurel, California laurel, cassia, and avocado plants. It's native to eastern North America and can be found in Maine and New York. However, it can also be seen as far south as Florida and southwest into Texas and Arkansas.
Characteristics of Wild Allspice- Nothern Spice Bush Shrub
Gardeners revere the spice bush or wild allspice shrub for its aromatic leaves and flowers, which have a distinct scent when crushed. This deciduous shrub typically grows up to 15 feet tall and wide, but can sometimes reach 20 feet. Gardeners can expect it to develop flowers from March through May and produce red berries from late summer through October. The leaves are green in the summer and change color in the fall. The leaves typically reach lengths of between two and six inches.
Attracting Wildlife with Spicebushes
Gardeners who want to spice up their wildlife viewing opportunities will love planting allspice. This shrub is known to attract all birds, bees, and small mammals. The bees are attracted to the flowers, and birds, especially the veery who and wood thrush, are drawn to its berries. This shrub also attracts squirrels and butterflies.
Best Spots to Place Wild Allspice in Your Yard
Since the allspice bush can grow up to 15 feet high and wide, it's best to plant it in open areas. It looks best as the focal point of a shade or rain garden or along the perimeter of front and backyards.
Fantastic Companion Plants for the Allspice Shrub
The allspice shrub can be successfully planted next to several types of perennials, including grape hyacinth and monkshood. Gardeners can plant blue spruce and deep green hemlock next to Lindera Benzoin, and the shrub does well around dogwood and red vein enkianthus.
The northern allspice shrub is an excellent plant for most gardens. It thrives next to other trees and shrubs and makes a statement with its signature scent.
