Arrowwood Viburnum
Viburnum dentatum
A bulletproof hedge shrub with white spring flowers, blue fall berries, and burgundy autumn leaves.
- Sun to shade
- Average–wet
- 6–10 ft
- Blooms May–Jun
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- Plant guide
- Spicebush
Chartreuse-gold
Shrub
Spicebush
Lindera benzoin
An early-blooming shade shrub, host to the spicebush swallowtail, with butter-yellow fall color.
the Northeastthe Mid-Atlanticthe Southeastthe Midwest
Growing Spicebush
One of the best native shrubs for shade and the host plant of its namesake swallowtail. Red fall berries on female plants are prized by migrating thrushes. It’s deer-resistant, good fall color, and fragrant.
Where it grows
Spicebush is native to the Northeast. In the wild you’ll find it across Alabama · Arkansas · Connecticut · Delaware · Florida · Georgia · Illinois · Indiana · Iowa · Kentucky and 24 more states. Always confirm it suits your specific county with your state native plant society before planting.
Regional Garden shows Spicebush on 34 state pages.
Good for
Sourcing
Where to buy Spicebush
Seeds & live plants on Amazon
Seed packets, plugs, and starter plants for many of these species ship to your door.
Browse on AmazonSome links here are affiliate links — we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. The surest source of locally-adapted stock is a native-plant nursery or a native plant society sale in your area.
Plant it with
Companions & kin.
Natives that share Spicebush’s range and conditions.
Fragrant Sumac
Rhus aromatica
A low, spreading shrub that blankets dry banks and blazes scarlet and orange in fall.
- Full–part sun
- Dry
- 2–6 ft
- Blooms Mar–Apr
American Elderberry
Sambucus canadensis
Big lacy flower heads in summer give way to purple-black berries for both birds and your kitchen.
- Full–part sun
- Average–wet
- 6–12 ft
- Blooms Jun–Jul
Buttonbush
Cephalanthus occidentalis
Spherical white 'pincushion' flowers over standing water, swarmed by butterflies and bees.
- Full–part sun
- Average–wet
- 5–10 ft
- Blooms Jun–Aug