The Northern Spicebush will let you know spring has arrived with its dense clusters of pale yellow flowers. This native plant is noted for its early aromatic flowers, red berries and beautiful fall colour. This low maintenance bush is dioecious with male and female flowers on separate plants. Female flowers that have a male pollinator will give way to the bright red berries that are attractive to birds. Both the fruit and foliage are fragrant. The fruit has a peppery taste and scent. Stems and leaves when crushed develop a spicy and citrusy fragrance hence "benzoin", the species name. In the fall the leaves turn a golden yellow.
