spicebush

The leaves of a spicebush are aromatic when crushed and make great host plants for the larva of the spicebush swallowtail, whom feed on the leaves.

Lindera benzoin (Spicebush) is a shrub that is native to the Chicago region. It grows in moist locations in bottomlands, woods, ravines, valleys, and along streams. Clusters of tiny, apetalous, aromatic, greenish-yellow flowers bloom along the branches in early spring before the foliage emerges. It is dioecious (male and female flowers on separate plants), with the male flowers being larger and showier than the female ones. Flowers of female plants give way to bright red drupes which mature in fall and are attractive to birds. Female plants need a male pollinator in order to set fruit. This lindera has thick, oblong-obovate, light green leaves that turn an attractive yellow in autumn.