Spicebush is a deciduous shrub growing to 6–12 feet tall. The leaves, along with the stems are aromatic and when crushed have a spicy, citrusy smell and thus its name. In the fall the leaves turn a very bright and showy yellow color. The yellow flowers grow in clusters appearing in early spring, before the leaves begin to grow. The ripe fruit is a red and berrylike and is eaten by several bird species. It is the host plant for the Spicebush swallowtail butterfly (Papilio Troilus).