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[title size=”2″]Spicebush[/title]

The spicebush is an understory plant that grows under larger trees and plants in forests. It is typically found growing underneath the Yellow Poplar. The spicebush likes damp, partially shaded rich wooded areas and grows along stream banks, usually in thickets. It is a dioecious shrub meaning it has its male and female flowers on separate plants and requires both to propagate. It is a bush that is small to medium in size and can grow to heights of between 5 and 20 feet. The spicebush alternates between dark green oval-shaped leaves that are between 2 to 6 inches long in the spring and summer, to a golden-yellow color in the fall, during which period it emits a pleasant fragrance. The spicebush’s leaves and twigs provide nutrients for deer. As most shrubs, the spicebush has multiple trunks. It produces bunches of small bright yellow flowers that bloom in early spring between March and April. Its flowers serve as a nectar source for a variety of insects and butterflies. In addition to flowers, the spicebush produces bright red berries called drupes where the outer fleshy part surrounds a hard seed. The berries serve as an excellent food source for birds and mammals in the area. Besides providing nutrition, spicebush also provides coverage for small animals. The fruits, leaves and twigs can be used to make tea. The fruits can also be ground into a spice to provide flavoring.

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Lindera benzoin

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