Lindera obtusiloba

I wonder how many people out there are familiar with the Japanese spicebush, L. obtusiloba? And in particular, how far north it can be grown? I have seen this shrub a number of times in my travels, on the east coast as far north as New Bedford MA (Allen Haskell's incredible nursery and garden....), The Morris and Scott Arboretums outside of Philly.

And, most recently, in Seattle, at the Japanese garden in the Washington Park Arboretum. The picture below was taken this weekend while we were there. In the gray rain, these plants are beacons of gold which seem to glow from within. I think they have the finest gold fall color of any shrub I have ever seen. The gold is often overlaid with pink on close inspection.

Here is a closer up of the beautiful foliage

And one picture of some fall colors in the garden. Recent heavy rains have taken their toll on the JM color display, but there was still lots to be seen, and it beats Michigan, where most of our color is now gone due to recent cold windy weather

Hi David,

An old Heronswood catalog lists L. obtusiloba as Zone 6. The Arnold lists it in their collection. They are what? Zone 6A? Worth a try in Zone 5?

I just ordered some seed of this plant from Sheffield's last week. I don't think there is such a thing as a bad Lindera, but this one looks better than most. Great pictures. I hope I get good germination.

Scott

Not very familiar with lindera's up here. Just haven't gotten around to them. Obtusiloba has a most pleasingly odd leaf shape. Someday I may give it a real hardiness test.

Rick

I planted the native Lindera this spring and I think it might already be dead.

Mike, Linder's (Larpenteur Ave.) has Lindera. With a name like that they should carry it.

Beautiful garden David

I have seen a number of the other asiatic linderas in various arboreta, L. angustifolia I recall, and a number of other species at the Morris Arboretum in particular, which had at least 4 or 5. But I recall that this species was much more attractive than the others, in overall form, foliage character, and the richness of the fall color.

I would like to find a plant for sale somewhere, but I have never seen it for sale in the upper midwest, nor have I ever seen it in any garden away from the east and west coast. As usual, one wonders if it is a hardiness issue, or merely one of availability and interest. Given that the native spicebush grows abundantly on my property, I am going to try this one if I can find it.

I vote for hardiness issue. I had one at the old house, and it died completely to the ground each year. It would get about 2' tall with several branches the following year, then die to the ground again. I haven't checked on it in a couple years to see if it had taken a better hold on life, but I doubt it. I also have Lindera reflexa here, and that is a winner, but still not hardy. It has the reddest fall color you could ever ask for. BUT, it too dies to the ground, even in the last couple easy winters. Scott--remind me when you next pass through here and I will dig it up for you and you can give it a go in Zone 6. David--Camellia Forest has Lindera obtusiloba. I can't recall where I got mine.

It is grown in Britain, which is further north than anywhere in the contiguous US, if you want a northernmost world record. Doesn't say a lot about hardiness, though, with the mild winters here.

Resin

A free Lindera? Thanks, Kevin! I'll make a point of visiting, hopefully not in the middle of January!

Scott

David,

What a great bunch of photo's. That Lindera is dynamite! I bought one from Ridge Road Nursery about 6 years ago in the fall and overwintered it outside. The next year I gave it to our Grounds guy and told him to give it a home. It has disappeared and he has no recollection of me giving it to him. But, Ridge Road had a plant there in the NE corner of Iowa that had survived for a number of years and he considered it fairly hardy there. I think the plants that he sells are cuttings off the plant on his grounds. I guess I'm really just speculating on that since I've not been there for a number of years, namely 6. I'm gonna have to get one of these things and try it again.

Regards,
Ernie

Hey Ernie, does Ridge Road Nursery mailorder? I would rather buy seedlings or cutting grown plants or a plant grown in IL than one grown in NC. But I am sure I will at least try one from Camellia Forest Nursery. Thanks for the tip Kevin.

David,

I don't know for sure if they mailorder but here's a link: http://www.ridgeroadplants.com/

Ernie

Ridge Road hasn't typically done mail order, and that may be the source of my ever-dying-back plant. Gene(of Ridge Road)now lists it as Zone 6 minimum on his latest plant list, so even he has seen what winter has wrought.

Well, I am the adventurous type as far as gardening goes, so I will give it a try nonetheless. I have found that my new garden has some very protected niches, with a long east facing wooded slope, very protected on the north and west, and we are on the border of zone 5b/6a anyway. I figure if Stachyurus, Sinocalycanthus, Franklinia, one of the Ackerman camellias, and even a couple of Skimmias are at least eking out a living here, that maybe this one will too.

Of course, eventually one runs out of those protected niches. And eventually we may again have a -20F winter. Bring on global warming (just kiddin').

Oh how I perked up when mention was made of the Morris Arboretum . . . . but then I realized it was PA, not MN. Sigh . . .