Alpine Currant vs Spicebush - TreeTime.ca

Alpine Currant vs Spicebush

Ribes alpinum

Lindera benzoin

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NOT AVAILABLE THIS SEASON

Alpine Currant
Spicebush

Alpine Currant is a great shrub to plant along sidewalks, near building or at your property boundary as a hedge or accent species. It is widely used by commercial landscapers in parking lots and near buildings because of its hardiness, attractiveness, and pollution tolerance.

While Alpine Currant produces edible berries, they are not palatable.

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.

Alpine Currant Quick Facts

Spicebush Quick Facts

Zone: 2a
Zone: 4a
Height: 1.5 m (5 ft)
Height: 3 m (10 ft)
Spread: 1.5 m (5 ft)
Spread: 3 m (10 ft)
Moisture: normal
Moisture: normal, wet
Light: any
Light: any
Hybrid: no
Hybrid: no
Catkins: no
Catkins: no
Berries: small, bright red
Berries: red
Flowers: greenish yellow and fragrant
Flowers: greenish yellow
Growth rate: medium
Growth rate: slow
Life span: medium
Life span: medium
Suckering: low
Suckering: medium




Other Names: mountain currant
Other Names: benjamin bush, common spicebush, northern spicebush, wild allspice