I have a Spicebush (Lindera benzoin) plant I started from seed in the ground. I think this will be its 4th year.
Over the past few weeks many of the branches have flopped over as you hopefully can see in the pictures.
The branches are woody for the vast majority of the length.
My only theory is over-fertilization this spring , but the knock against that theory is, as I pointed out, they’re flopping on woody stems (old growth), quite low on the stem. It has been overly windy this spring too. But seems like the bush should be able to support itself (unless it’s grown too quickly…) perhaps it’s not acute over fertilization but cumulative…
I figure my only options are to prune the flopping branches or to somehow stake them or contain them.
What do folks think?
@TJ_westPA
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I don’t encounter it much in my trevails, but I’d think it’s rangy habit would make it prone to that sort of thing.
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Yeah, it’s my first experience growing it, and my only previous experience is with wild specimens in shady areas. Those plants don’t look like this 
Any suggestions on a remedy?
Hmm, I don’t think I’ve encountered any floppy spicebush in the wild. You have it growing in a sunny spot with lots of mulch and little competition with other plants. I’d imagine that could lead to more vigorous growth than is typical for them. Spicebush can certainly put out a lot of growth in a short period of time. Maybe last year it grew well and now that it has a flush of new growth it doesn’t have thick enough trunks to support the extra weight. I know that spicebush like to branch out or sucker a lot from the base. Sometimes those lower branches or trunks get pushed out to the side more and don’t get as thick as the center trunks.
I think I would likely prune it back some and then maybe tie up those branches with string in a circle around the whole bush to keep them more upright.
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That was going to be my suggestion. Once they lignify a little more they might be ok
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Thanks guys - I’ll see if I can tie up the branches. Will definitely withhold ferts for a year or 2 at this rate.
