Spicebush

Spicy smell to crushed foliage.

Florida is at the southern end of the range for this species, and the range is likely disjoint with the species occurring in areas where appropriate drainage conditions (seepy) are common.



Naturalistic settings and informal wet hammock settings.

Not salt tolerant of inundation by salty or brackish water.



Low/no tolerance of salty wind or direct salt spray

Like it's relative redbay(Persea borbonia), it's susceptible to attacks by the redbay ambrosia beetle, which spreads a deadly fungus called Laural Wilt. While we need to keep planting them for the butterflies, just be aware that you might lose it to this wilt. Maybe if we plant enough, that we'll find some that are resistant.

Birds and mammals eat the fruits.

Bluffs, floodplains, calcareous hammocks. Rare.

• Aroma, fragrance, Showy fruits, Interesting foliage
• Larval host for the spice bush swallowtail and other butterflies. 
• Attracts bees and flies.