Thimbleberry vs Spicebush - TreeTime.ca

Thimbleberry vs Spicebush

Rubus parviflorus

Lindera benzoin

NOT AVAILABLE THIS SEASON - MIGHT RETURN

NOT AVAILABLE THIS SEASON - MIGHT RETURN

Thimbleberry
Spicebush

Thimbleberry is an ornamental shrub with large, green maple-like-leaves. Flowers are attractive, fragrant, and turn into red-raspberry-like berries. The berries are good for jams, cakes, breads, muffins etc. If you remove the berry, the core resembles a thimble, giving this shrub its namesake.

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.

Thimbleberry Quick Facts

Spicebush Quick Facts

Zone: 4a
Zone: 4a
Height: 1.5 m (5 ft)
Height: 3 m (10 ft)
Spread: 1.5 m (5 ft)
Spread: 3 m (10 ft)
Light: partial shade, full sun
Light: any
Moisture: any
Moisture: normal, wet
Growth rate: fast
Growth rate: slow
Life span: medium
Life span: medium
Suckering: none
Suckering: medium


Foliage: Soft leaves up to 8 inches across
Foliage: fragrant
Fall colour: gold
Flowers: white, showy
Flowers: greenish yellow
Berries: edible, red, similar to raspberries
Berries: red
Hybrid: no
Hybrid: no
Catkins: no
Catkins: no


Native to: AB, BC, ON
Native to: ON
Other Names: thimbleberry, western thimbleberry
Other Names: benjamin bush, common spicebush, northern spicebush, wild allspice