Wild Forage

Spicebush

Lindera benzoin

Also called: wild allspice

Aromatic understory shrub with yellow spring flowers and red berries used like allspice.

Spicebush: Whole plant — Whole plantPhoto: Roy Boyle · CC0 · source

Spicebush: Flower — FlowerPhoto: USGS Bee Inventory and Monitoring Lab from Beltsville, Maryland, USA · Public domain · source

Spicebush: Fruit or seed — Fruit or seedPhoto: Abigail Staffelbach · CC0 · source

Confirm EVERY point before you eat it

Shrub 6-12 ft; crushed leaves and twigs smell spicy-citrusy
Simple, alternate, smooth-edged oval leaves, turning clear yellow in fall
Tiny yellow flower clusters along bare twigs in early spring
Bright red oval berries in late summer on female plants

0 of 4 confirmed. If any point does not match, it is not this plant.

Look-alikes to rule out

Winterberry hollyToxic
Toothed leaves, no spicy smell, berries persist through winter. Berries are mildly toxic.
SassafrasHarmless
Aromatic but leaves are mitten-shaped or lobed on the same tree.

In season

Flowers March-April before leaves; berries August-October.

Habitat

Moist woods, stream banks, shaded bottomland.

Parts used

berries, leaves, twigs

Preparation and use

Dried, crushed berries as an allspice substitute; twig and leaf tea.

Harvest note

Male and female plants are separate; harvest lightly and leave berries for birds.

Related: Spicebush seedling →

Educational reference only. Never eat a wild plant or mushroom based on a website or app. Confirm with an experienced forager, your local extension office, or a mycological club. Poison Control (US): 1-800-222-1222. Call 911 for severe symptoms.