Spicebush
Lindera umbellata クロモジLauraceae
Native Edible Wildlife value: medium Maintenance: low
Description
Lindera umbellata is a deciduous understory shrub of cool-temperate
Japanese hill forests. The twigs and young bark carry a distinctive,
clean spicy fragrance — long valued for hand-shaved tea picks (kuromoji)
served with traditional sweets, and increasingly for artisanal essential
oil. Pale yellow umbel-like flowers open with the new leaves in early
spring; small black drupes follow on female plants in autumn. Prefers
cool root run, dappled light, and protection from western sun. Marginal
on the Tokyo lowland — site it as understory in a mixed planting rather
than in open ground.
Growing requirements
| Light | part shade |
|---|---|
| Water | medium |
| Soil | deep, well-drained, slightly acidic loam rich in organic matter |
| Hardiness | tokyo hills |
| Container | No |
| Maintenance | low |
| Common issues | leaf miners (light, cosmetic) |
Practical info
| Native | Yes |
|---|---|
| Edible | Yes |
| Edible parts | young leaves (tea, garnish); twigs (tea, traditional楊枝 toothpicks); bark (aromatic; used in essential oils) |
| Wildlife value | medium |
| Attracts |
|
Seasonal calendar
Tokyo-lowland calendar. Shifts a week or two with elevation or cultivar.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Planting | ||||||||||||
| Flowering | ||||||||||||
| Fruiting |
- Mar Late winter to early spring before bud break.
- Nov Late autumn after leaf fall.
Usage
Mid-layer in a zōki-bayashi (mixed coppice) style garden. Hand-shaved
twigs make traditional kuromoji-yōji (tea picks). Not recommended for
long-term container culture.