Spicebush

[ozark_rocks]

I want to plant Lindera benzoin (spice bush, wild forsythia), and was wondering if I needed a male and female, to get fruit?

[rainbowgardener]

Spicebush is kind of a mixed question. It has separate male and female plants, but the male plant may also have some female flowers and vice versa. It may also have some "perfect" or complete flowers. To be safe you should plant at least a couple... I have never seen them sold as male and female, so you have to take the luck of the draw.

I have a couple of spicebushes which have thrived for at least five years but never bloomed. Perhaps not enough sun? It's very shady where they are.

[ozark_rocks]

Thank you for responding, Rainbow. I had the impression Spice bush was a shade lover. In the wild I find them growing in dense woods on creek banks, and in river bottoms.Almost full shade, except in the early spring. I'll do some research on where to plant them, before I buy any.

[rainbowgardener]

Well, that was a guess. I don't really know why they haven't bloomed. Maybe it is the alkaline clay/rock they are planted in. But despite all that the shrubs grow like crazy, just don't bloom for me. Or maybe not wet enough -- in the wild it likes stream sides and swamp margins. Mine is planted on a steep hillside, which means the water runs off, doesn't stick around very long...