Japanese Spicebush is a large, herbaceous, multi-stemmed, flowering shrub or small tree in the laurel family, native to the valleys and mountain slopes of Asia and generally growing 10 to 15 feet tall and wide at maturity (20 to 50 years). It is multi-stemmed with yellow-green, smooth branches when the plant is young. The yellow flowers emerge before the leaves in early spring, although their emergence is dependent on how mild the climate is. The leaves are variable and can have 1 to 3 lobes or none. In fall, the leaf color is a bright yellow lasting for several weeks. The shrub is either male or female and fruits are produced on female shrubs only. Japanese Spicebush tolerates most soil types but prefers moist well-drained soils in full to partial sun. It does best in acid to neutral pHs. Male and female plants are required to bear fruit. Use in shrub borders or as a specimen. The vibrant colors of the leaves and flowers make this a distinctive and attractive plant for a woodland landscape. It is said to require acidic soil; however, it is often found on limestone mountains in China. Diseases, Insect Pests, and Other Plant Problems: No known diseases or insect pests.
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day) | Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Soil texture
Clay; Loam (Silt); Sand
Soil pH
Acid (<6.0); Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Moist
Available space
12-24 feet
NC region
Coastal; Mountains; Piedmont
Mature size
Height: 10 ft. 0 in. - 15 ft. 0 in. | Width: 10 ft. 0 in. - 15 ft. 0 in.
Growth rate
Slow
Maintenance
Low
Canopy layer
2 - Understory (15-40 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Multi-stemmed; Rounded
Foliage
Deciduous
Leaf color
Green
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf arrangement
Alternate
Leaf shape
Ovate
Leaf margin
Entire; Lobed
Leaf feel
Leathery
Leaf value
Fragrant; Showy
Leaf size
3-6 inches long
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
Alternate, simple, leathery, lustrous dark green leaves; 2.5 to 5 inches long; brilliant golden yellow fall color. Ovate, cordate at base, margins entire or 1, 2, or 3 lobed.
Fall color
Gold/Yellow
Flower color
Gold/Yellow; Green
Flower value
Showy
Flower form
Insignificant; Umbel
Flower shape
Star
Flower size
< 1 inch
Flower detail
Small, greenish-yellow flowers without petals in umbels in spring. Flowers with 6 narrowly elliptic tepals, males with 9 stamens.
Bloom time
Spring
Fruit color
Black; Red/Burgundy
Fruit type
Berry
Fruit value
Showy
Fruit detail
Small, glossy red fruit that turns black on female plants.
Bark color
Black; Dark Brown
Stem color
Brown/Copper; Gold/Yellow; Green
Stem detail
Branchlets yellow-green, smooth and striate when young. With age become brown and scurfy with corky lenticels
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Non-native
Origin
China, Japan, North and South Korea
Distribution
Popular in European gardens.
Food & Medicine
Edible parts
Leaves
Harvest time
Fall
Fruit type
Berry
Edibility
Young buds and leaves used in teas.
Uses (ethnobotany)
Young leaves are fried and used as a Buddhist ceremonial dish.
Landscape Use
Landscape location
Lawn; Woodland
Landscape theme
Cottage Garden
Design feature
Border; Flowering Tree
Garden tags
#deciduous #deciduous shrub #small tree #small shrub #deciduous tree #flowering tree #flowering shrub #multistemmed #bushy