Willow Leaf Spicebush (Lindera Angustifolia) – 3 Gallon Pot

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Lindera angustifolia, commonly called Willow Leaf, Narrow Leaf, or Oriental Spicebush, is a beauty of a shrub providing both fine color and foliage texture year round on an upright multi-stemmed shrub that reaches 6 to 8 feet tall and 4 to 5 feet wide. The elongated, elliptical, 4-inch leaves emerge bright green in spring transitioning to a glossy mid-green with silvery undersides in summer. With the arrival of cooler temperatures in fall the foliage goes to vibrant, very showy shades of golden-yellow, orange and red before finally turning light brown to tawny-beige for the winter. The crushed leaves or twigs produce a pleasant, spicy fragrance, hence the name. The essential oil contained in the leaves, twigs, bark, and berries was traditionally used in folk medicine, aromatic oil for making soap, and as a substitute for allspice. After the leaves drop from the plant in late winter clusters of unique-looking greenish-yellow flowers appear along the stems that the early-season beneficial pollinators will appreciate. Following the flowers are berries that will turn black in fall contrasting beautifully with the bright foliage color. The fragrant fruits are sometimes dried and used in sachets. Easy to grow and with no pest or disease problems at all, Willow Leaf Spicebush is a low-maintenance colorful addition to sunny or partially shaded flowering shrub or woodland borders positioned where the stunning fall color display can be enjoyed.

The genus name Lindera honors Johann Linder (1676-1723), a Swedish botanist and physician.

Growing upright to 6 to 8 feet tall and 4 to 6 feet wide, the Willow Leaf Spice Bush is ideal for use as a specimen or in groupings in sunny to partially shaded landscape, woodland and flowering shrub borders. Because it keeps foliage year round, it’s also great for a natural hedge. A fine addition to cottage gardens, orange theme gardens, beneficial pollinator gardens, Asian theme gardens and wildlife gardens.