spicebush not producing berries?

i was pleased as punch when i stumbled (literally, got hit in the face with a branch and consequently the amazing spice aroma of the leaves) into a large stand of wild spicebushes this past summer. i collected pocketfulls of leaves for tea making and when i returned in the fall i was shocked to find that none of the bushes had produced any berries.

so has anyone encountered this before? i used to collect this plant in college and i dont remember it producing on alternating years or anything like that, but my best guess is maybe a lack of pollenating bugs could be to blame

This year down in Arkansas, I found a good amount of spicebush berries, as they were just ripening, collected some. Came back a few weeks later expecting to collect a lot, not one berry left, picked clean by the birds I suppose. Lots of spicebush berry buds are thickly set now, for next year. I like spicebush tea, but I mainly use the crushed fresh leaves rubbed on ears & face as mosquito repellant.

I found a good amount of solidago odora leaves this year that make a nice anise smelling tea, but the dried leaves lose concentration when stored more than a month.

The American beauty berry I always enjoy as a snack, this year not nearly as sweet as last years berries. (drought last year, good rain this year)

james beam

I can't help you on why they didn't have berries. However, I can tell you that they are fairly easy to grow. The kicker is to put the seeds in the ground and let them set through the winter. I have several growing around my house now...just because. I've found enough around my area to keep me happy but I just like having a "wild" landscape that I can share with people. In other words, so I can talk their heads off about wild plants.