Lindera angustifolia Seeds | Narrow-leaved Spicebush
LATIN NAME: Lindera angustifolia
COMMON NAME: Narrow-leaved Spicebush
Plant Profile
Narrow-leaved Spicebush (Lindera angustifolia) is a distinctive species in the laurel family. Narrow-leaved spicebush glints slender, willow-like leaves with pale, silvery undersides, small, greenish flowers in early spring, and small, black fruits that follow through the autumn. The bush keeps the neat, upright habit, the bark stays smooth and grey-brown, and the whole plant carries the quiet, fine-textured look of the laurel family. Crushed leaves and twigs carry spicy scent, and autumn brings clear yellows to the foliage. For the gardener, the sum of these traits is a plant that is easy to live with.
Science & Biotechnology
Research touching on Lindera angustifolia ranges from the botany of the laurel family to practical horticulture, including seed handling, propagation and the selection of superior forms. Within laurel family, spicebushes have their own chapter in aromatic-plant research, and narrow-leaved species appears in studies of bark and leaf chemistry. Gardeners benefit directly from its long cultivation: what the plant will do in a garden is well understood.
Uses & Benefits
Gardeners value Narrow-leaved Spicebush for its ornamental character, and the plant also fits naturally into herb, vegetable and cutting gardens. In woodland garden, narrow-leaved spicebush gives more than it asks. Fine, silvery foliage and clear yellow autumn colour earn it quiet attention, spicy twigs and bark have served traditional teas and remedies for generations, and bush feeds and shelters birds through the season. Early flowers feed bees, and shrub keeps modest, useful place that garden relies on. Mature plants need little attention in a well-chosen position.
Spicebush and its kin are aromatic medicinal shrubs: Lindera aggregata root, Wu Yao, is a classical Chinese qi-moving herb, and the American spicebush’s twigs and berries are a traditional warming wild tea and allspice substitute.
Growing from Seed
Narrow-leaved Spicebush is one of those generous plants that come along well from seed. Sow thinly on the surface of a loose, well-drained seed compost, cover lightly, water in gently and keep the tray in a sunny spot with even moisture. Once the seedlings have made true leaves, pot them on individually and plant out when they are sturdy and conditions are right.
Our Take
Among the Lindera group, it is one of the more distinctive species in cultivation. It is a solid representative of the Lindera group, true to type from seed. What it needs is basic: sun, drainage, and a little patience while it establishes.
Related Reading
Gardeners who grow Narrow-leaved Spicebush often pair it with these related subjects: