I love the native shrub Spicebush (Lindera benzoin)! It provides so much habitat for a variety of critters. Not only does its bright, red fruit attract many birds, such as vireos, thrushes and tanagers, but the flowers attract native bees and other pollinators. It also serves as nesting habitat for several songbirds. We have planted a few in the backyard and they’re really beginning to take off. This adaptable plant with lemony-smelling leaves (when crushed) is a favorite for birds and butterflies. The essential oil contained in the leaves, twigs, bark, and berries was traditionally used in folk medicine and as a substitute for allspice. 

Spicebush is best known as a host plant for the Spicebush Swallowtail butterfly, whose larvae (caterpillar) feed on its leaves. Adult butterflies lay their eggs on the underside of the leaves. Once the eggs hatch the caterpillars emerge and begin to eat, and eat, and eat the leaves of the host plant until they are large enough to shed a skin.  They do this 4 or 5 five times, and each new skin is called an ‘instar.’ The tiny caterpillar, which resembles bird droppings on a leaf, will then spin silk to fold one of the leaves around itself to hide from predators during the day.

They feed mainly after dark. As it grows, the 2”-3” the caterpillar turns bright green and develops “false eye spots” to scare away predators. Before the last skin shed the caterpillar anchors itself to a leaf, twig, brick, pot, or other stable surface with silk wires, and the hardened chrysalis hangs by these delicate wires for the duration of the transformation.  The adult butterfly emerges about 2 weeks later to feed on the nectar of flowers and find a mate and the whole process starts over. If the caterpillar doesn’t change until fall, the pupa (chrysalis) will overwinter, and hatch as an adult the following spring.

If you’re looking for a plant to attract some wonderful wildlife to your backyard, give our native Spicebush a try! You won’t be disappointed!