Golden Currant vs Spicebush - TreeTime.ca

Golden Currant vs Spicebush

Lindera benzoin

Ribes aureum

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NOT AVAILABLE THIS SEASON

Spicebush
Golden Currant

The Spicebush is an unique ornamental shrub that blooms with vibrant yellow flowers and bright green foliage. The foliage goes from green to yellow in the autumn, adding fall interest to your garden.The plant is dioecious, meaning that you will need male and female plants in order to harvest it’s red berries. Berries are only produced on female plants. The berries themselves aren’t that sweet, and are mostly enjoyed by birds and other wildlife.

The Spicebush, also commonly known as Common Spicebush, Northern Spicebush, Wild Allspice, and Benjamin Bush, is named after its distinctive spicy-sweet fragrance that comes from the flowers.

Golden Currant produces berries for jams, jellies, sauces and even pemmican. This currant bush is very dense, allowing for use as a hedge, windbreak, or wildlife habitat.

This plant is also a very popular rootstock to graft popular red and white currant varieties to. The resulting plants are taller, more productive, and easier to harvest.

Spicebush Quick Facts

Golden Currant Quick Facts

Zone: 4a
Zone: 4a
Height: 3 m (10 ft)
Height: 1.5 m (5 ft)
Spread: 3 m (10 ft)
Spread: 1.2 m (4 ft)
Moisture: normal, wet
Moisture: normal
Light: any
Light: partial shade, full sun
Hybrid: no
Hybrid: no
Catkins: no
Catkins: no
Fall colour: reddish purple
Berries: red
Berries: glossy black berries
Flowers: greenish yellow
Flowers: yellow
Growth rate: slow
Growth rate: medium
Life span: medium
Life span: short
Suckering: medium
Suckering: medium




Other Names: benjamin bush, common spicebush, northern spicebush, wild allspice
Other Names: buffalo currant, clove currant, fragrant golden currant, golden flowering currant, spicebush