SPINACH 'Caucasian Mountain' --Hablitzia tamnoides--

Perennial deciduous, dioecious bush to 12 feet. Native to Appalachia and a most elegant member of the very pretty plant family known as the Lauraceae. Spice bush prefers shade to sun and moist, rich soil. In fact, and this story is a bit of an indulgence on my part, the plant was considered by the early settlers to be an indicator of rich soil, and many homesteads were located due to the proximity of these bushes. The plant bears glossy green leaves and waxy, spicy-smelling red berries. Traditional use (TWM): cold remedy. Plant prefers rich, moist to mesic soil in the part shade. Cold-stored seed. Sow with tip of seed pointing up in good, warm soil. Grow in pots for a year, then transplant the 12 to 18 inch seedling to the woodland or shade garden. Prefers rich soils, moisture. Plant 6 feet apart.