Lindera Angustifolia seed
LATIN NAME: LINDERA ANGUSTIFOLIA
COMMON NAME: Narrow-leaved Spicebush
The narrow-leaved spicebush glints the slender, willow-like leaves with the pale, silvery undersides, the small, greenish flowers in the early spring, and the 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. The crushed leaves and the twigs carry the spicy scent, and the autumn brings the clear yellows to the foliage. It likes the sun, the shelter, and the deep, moist, well-drained soil.
Scientific Research & Plant Biotechnology
Within the laurel family, the spicebushes have their own chapter in the aromatic-plant research, and the narrow-leaved species appears in the studies of the bark and the leaf chemistry. The botanists note the early flowers that feed the bees when the season is still thin, and the ecologists track the fruits that carry the birds through the autumn. The fine-textured native shrubs also hold a steady place in the woodland-garden catalogues.
Ecological & Economic Value & Wide Applications
In the woodland garden, the narrow-leaved spicebush gives more than it asks. The fine, silvery foliage and the clear yellow autumn colour earn it the quiet attention, the spicy twigs and the bark have served the traditional teas and the remedies for the ages, and the bush feeds and shelters the birds through the season. The early flowers feed the bees, and the shrub keeps the modest, useful place that the garden relies on. Generous in the shade.
The narrow-leaved spicebush seeds germinate in a rich, sandy mix kept moist in the cool shade. The seedlings are steady and easy, and they grow on with the slender, glossy leaves. Keep them in the sheltered spot through the first season, and give them the deep, moist, well-drained ground. They transplant well in the early spring, and the young bushes soon carry the fine, silvery-backed foliage. The early flowers come within the few years, and the autumn yellows follow.
To grow the narrow-leaved spicebush from seed, sow the small, glossy seeds evenly into the shallow flat of rich, sandy mix, then cover them lightly, keep the flat in the bright, shaded spot and water gently. The seedlings come through within a few weeks, and they grow on steadily. Settle the young shrubs into the shaded, moist ground, and the slender leaves will glint through the years.