Spicebush
Lindera benzoin
Lauraceae · broadleaf deciduous shrub · native
Last updated
Data Coverage 3 of 6 dimensions
Quick Facts
Height
6–12 ft
Spread
9 ft
Growth Rate
Slow
Light
Full Sun to Part Shade
Soil
Moist
Water
Moderate
Hardiness
Zone Zones 4a–8b
Bloom Time
March
Fall Color
Yellow
Origin
Ontario and Maine, southwest to Kansas and south to Texas
Phenological Calendar
Regional Season Tracker
GDD₃₂ accumulation across 7 Puget Sound stations · as of Mar 30, 2026| Station | GDD₃₂ | Current Stage | Next | To Go |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Issaquah / East King | 1,116 | Beginning of flowering | — | — |
| Seattle / UW | 1,112 | Beginning of flowering | — | — |
| Olympia / Tumwater | 1,049 | Beginning of flowering | — | — |
| Kent / Auburn | 1,048 | Beginning of flowering | — | — |
| Bellingham / Whatcom | 1,041 | Beginning of flowering | — | — |
| Tacoma / Puyallup | 1,017 | Beginning of flowering | — | — |
| Sequim / Rain Shadow | 1,012 | Beginning of flowering | — | — |
| Stage | GDD32 | Typical Window |
|---|---|---|
| ● Beginning of flowering BBCH 61 NOW | 526 | — |
Range: 388–578 GDD₃₂
(6yr)
GDD = Growing Degree Days (base 32°F, Jan 1 start). Why base 32? Source GDD₅₀ thresholds from Herms 2004 (OSU, Secrest Arboretum, Ohio) and UMD IPMnet (Gill & Klick, mid-Atlantic), converted to GDD₃₂ via Kent bloom-date mapping. Season tracker for Kent / Auburn as of Mar 30, 2026. Predicted dates use 16-day weather forecast through Apr 15, 2026, then climate normals.