Spicebush

Description

Cultural Information:

Plant in rich, moist soil.  An understory shrub that prefers light to moderate shade.  pH adaptable.

Associated Species:

Black Cherry, Red Oak, White Oak, Sassafras, Bur Oak, Pin Oak, Tuliptree, Sweetgum, Shellbark Hickory and Shagbark Hickory.

Field Observations:

At home in the hilly forests of SE Ohio as well as in the shadier, flat areas of central Ohio.  Shade during part of the day helps retain soil moisture and keeps them looking their best.  In central Ohio I was surprised to find an island of them in the middle of a small woodlot that surrounded a pond.  Our alkaline soils did not seem to hamper their growth although they did have shade for most of the day.  In production our plants are grown in a media that drains very well and are situated so that they receive shade from the early afternoon on.  Of course, they were irrigated daily, and they grew extremely well.