Do I need a male and female? How do I know what I have?
Healthy 5-6 ft Spicebush that has never bloomed.
Start by posting images of what you are asking about: whole plant, then closer images of leaves, flowers, fruit, stems, buds, trunks, etc.
Lindera benzoin is one plant that goes by the common name Spicebush, but there are others. Until we can see what you have and positively ID it, we can only conjecture.
Lindera benzoin is a dioecious species, meaning it forms male/staminate (pollen-bearing) flowers on separate plants from female/pistillate flowers - which will form fruit when pollinated. Whether you have a male plant or a female plant doesn't matter in whether it will flower or not. The age of the plant can certainly factor in, as can environmental conditions, predation, pruning, and maybe other things.
5-6' tall seems like it should be large enough for Lindera benzoin to bloom - but you haven't shown us what you have, nor described the circumstances of this plant's life. Give us more to work with.
I hope these suffice. Thanks! The plant is about 4 years old. Seems happy where it is.
I wonder if that is some other species of plant which is used as a spice - like a Bay or some such. I agree with you that it seems happy and vigorous.
Those great big prominent buds ought to ring someone's bell. That ain't no Lindera benzoin...
Is it a Calycanthus floridus?
Hmm, never mind, Calycanthus has opposite leaves.
Good catch!
Haha...thanks, I'm good at being wrong: )
Well obviously I was told wrong. I was at a nursery class and received it as a gift. I have transplanted it twice, because it was not happy in full sun. I guess I will have to surround it with color. If any idea what it is I would appreciate it. Thanks!
Perhaps it takes a few years to bloom and moving it set the timeline back. It does look happy where it is and I would have to wait to see the blooms for an ID. Unless I stumble upon it between now and then. In the meantime, you could call the nursery and ask again. Good luck Sinding!
Sinding could also post this question (and attendant images) over on the Plant Identification forum, where many more eyes (of Texas) could be observing it - and maybe answer you more quickly.
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