Lindera praecox

Lindera praecox belongs to the laurel family, Lauraceae. It is a deciduous shrub: it sheds its leaves for winter. Kew lists its form as a shrub or tree. It comes from parts of China and Japan with temperate climates. In China, it grows in Anhui, Hubei, and Zhejiang. In Japan, it grows on Honshu, Kyushu, and Shikoku. Wild plants grow in thick scrub on hillsides. They also grow by streams and lakes. It is not native to Britain or Ireland.

This species can reach about 25 feet [7.5 metres] tall. Plants For A Future lists blooms from April to May. Male and female flowers grow on separate plants. A lone plant cannot set seed with its own pollen. Grow both sexes if you aim to get seed. Its size suits a woodland garden as a tall shrub. Plants For A Future also suggests the edges of woods.

Choose part shade or a spot with dappled sun. The soil should stay moist and hold much organic matter. Plants For A Future suggests adding leaf mould to enrich it. Sand, loam, and clay can all suit this plant. The source lists acid and neutral soils as suitable. Its more precise care notes call for soil without lime. A moist site suits its known homes by streams and lakes. It can grow in soils with a range of textures. This does not mean it can cope with drought.

Plants For A Future lists USDA zones 8–11 for this species. Its notes on growth in Britain warn about cold. They call it tender there and favour a wall in part shade. At Kew, plants survive fairly well. Yet they bloom best against a wall. You can prune hard, even cutting stems to ground level. Spread large pruning tasks over several seasons, not all at once. Its main garden use is for looks, including in woods.

Grow new plants from seed, layering, or cuttings of partly ripened wood. Sow fresh seed in autumn under greenhouse cover. Seed soon loses its power to sprout; do not let it dry out. Keep seedlings under cover for their first winter. Protect young plants in their first winter outside, too. Seed oil has served as fuel for lighting. Plants For A Future reports no known food or medicinal uses. It lists no known hazards, too. This does not prove it is safe as food or for pets.