Spicebush vs White Fringe Tree - TreeTime.ca

Spicebush vs White Fringe Tree

Lindera benzoin

Chionanthus virginicus

NOT AVAILABLE THIS SEASON

NOT AVAILABLE THIS SEASON

(new stock expected: fall of 2026)

Spicebush
White Fringe Tree

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.

White Fringe Tree is known for its fringe-like white flowers. It can either grow as a small tree or a large multistemmed shrub. The White Fringe Tree has separate male and female plants. Both male and female flowers have white fringe-like petals, but the male flowers are longer and showier. The female flowers give way to clusters of dark blue to black berries. These berries are not edible for humans but attract birds and other wildlife.

The White Fringe Tree is tolerant of clay soils, saline soils, and air pollution but does not do well in prolonged dry conditions.

Spicebush Quick Facts

White Fringe Tree Quick Facts

Zone: 4a
Zone: 3a
Height: 3 m (10 ft)
Height: 5 m (15 ft)
Spread: 3 m (10 ft)
Spread: 5 m (15 ft)
Moisture: normal, wet
Moisture: normal, wet
Light: any
Light: partial shade, full sun
Hybrid: no
Hybrid: no
Catkins: no
Catkins: no
Berries: red
Berries: blue to black
Flowers: greenish yellow
Flowers: fragrant, white clusters
Growth rate: slow
Growth rate: slow
Life span: medium
Life span: medium
Suckering: medium
Suckering: medium




Other Names: benjamin bush, common spicebush, northern spicebush, wild allspice
Other Names: american fringe tree, american fringetree, fringe tree, fringetree, north american fringe tree, white fringetree