Mrs Stone of Coon Path, Lambertville N.J.

By:b hirst

Spicebush (Lindera benzoin)

A deciduous shrub in the Laurel Family (Lauraceae)

Mrs Stone lived on a hillside south of Lambertville N.J. on a one lane road called Coon Path. It was while working for her as a teenager that I first found a Spicebush also known as Lindera Benzoin. Usually found as an understory multi-stemmed shrub, it had found its home on her property in a common location for this native plant, as an under story shrub to a wet woodlands site, and right on top of her drip spring that fed into a cistern that supplied her house with water. One of my regular tasks for her was to cut it back and keep the intake lines to the cistern open.

Being a vigorous grower in these conditions, I got to see this plant at all times of the year as I maintained this cistern. In the spring it was early to bloom sometimes beginning in January. One year there was a warm spell in late January and I had to open up the springs intake line. I was suprised to find that this plant had started to bloom. Silly me, I thought plants only bloomed in the spring. Whenever I would cut, chop, or work on this plant, it would emit a pleasant spicy fragrance. In late summer and early fall this spice bush would have a display of bright red fruits.

I don't recall it suffering deer damage but its fruits were eaten by wildlife in short order. Its foliage was a glossy dark green which made it standout in the dense shade. There are few woody plants that thrive under these dense canopy conditions. I found out how easy it is to propagate because as long as when I would cut it back and keep it moist, in a shaded location, this plant could root and continue to grow. (It has small fibrous roots so when transplanting give this plant ample water and it will survive.)

The plant near the Stone's spring was full grown. It was 12 high and 15 feet wide. The Spicebush is an adaptable plant. It will grow in full sun and drier locations. In drier locations it may have some tip dieback, but it will be denser and have better flower and seed production. This bush has both male and female plants. If you get winter die back, don't worry. Cut out the effected branches and wait for basal sprouts to regenerate since there are no major pests to be concerned with in growing this plant.

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