Northern Spicebush (Lindera benzoin) is in the laurels family (Lauraceae). Across the U.S., iNaturalist users have logged 3,366 research-grade flowering observations of it in our sample, peaking in April.
Nationally it blooms mainly from March to April, but timing varies a lot by state and elevation — see the table below.
When to photograph Northern Spicebush: observations by month (U.S.)
About Northern Spicebush
Lindera benzoin (commonly called spicebush, common spicebush, northern spicebush, wild allspice, or Benjamin bush) is a shrub in the laurel family, native to eastern North America, ranging from New York to Ontario in the north, and to Kansas, Texas, and northern Florida in the center and south. Within its native range it is a relatively common plant where it grows in the understory in moist, rich woods, especially those with exposed limestone.From Wikipedia via iNaturalist — article, CC BY-SA.
Northern Spicebush by state
| State | Observations | Peak month | Main season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pennsylvania | 432 | April | Mar–Apr |
| New York | 417 | April | Apr–Apr |
| Virginia | 334 | March | Mar–Mar |
| Ohio | 294 | April | Mar–Apr |
| Maryland | 230 | March | Mar–Apr |
| Massachusetts | 221 | April | Apr–Apr |
| North Carolina | 203 | March | Mar–Mar |
| New Jersey | 182 | April | Mar–Apr |
| Indiana | 167 | March | Mar–Apr |
| Kentucky | 150 | March | Mar–Mar |
| Illinois | 122 | April | Mar–Apr |
| Connecticut | 108 | April | Apr–Apr |
| Michigan | 77 | April | Apr–Apr |
| Arkansas | 75 | March | Mar–Mar |
| Tennessee | 66 | March | Mar–Mar |
| District of Columbia | 51 | March | Mar–Mar |
| Delaware | 38 | April | Mar–Apr |
| West Virginia | 37 | March | Mar–Apr |
| Missouri | 31 | March | Mar–Mar |
| Rhode Island | 27 | April | Apr–Apr |
| Georgia | 19 | March | Mar–Mar |
| Oklahoma | 19 | March | Mar–Mar |
| Vermont | 14 | April | Apr–May |
| Mississippi | 13 | March | Mar–Mar |
| New Hampshire | 13 | April | Apr–May |
| Alabama | 10 | March | Mar–Mar |
| Maine | 6 | April | Apr–Apr |
| South Carolina | 6 | March | Mar–Mar |
Main season = months with at least 30% of the state's peak-month count.
Related wildflowers (laurels)
Photography tips
- Photograph flowers on calm, overcast mornings to avoid wind blur and harsh shadows.
- Get low: a shallow depth of field (f/2.8–f/5.6) isolates a bloom against soft color.
- Stay on trails — trampling meadows kills plants and ruins next year's display.
- Try a kaleidoscope abstract of a single bloom with our online kaleidoscope tool.
FAQ
When is the best time to photograph Northern Spicebush?
Nationally, April has the most observations, with the main season from March to April.
Where is Northern Spicebush most often seen?
The most observations come from Pennsylvania, New York, Virginia.