A dioecious shrub is a type of shrub species where individual plants are either male or female, meaning they produce flowers of only one sex. In dioecious shrubs, male plants produce flowers with stamens that produce pollen, while female plants produce flowers with pistils that receive pollen for fertilization. Because of this, both male and female plants are required for pollination and subsequent fruit or seed production. Examples of native dioecious shrubs include Spicebush, Inkberry, and Winterberry
In order to tell whether the dioecious shrubs that we sell are male or female, they must be mature enough to produce flowers. Depending on the species this can take between 3-5 years. At the time of shipment, our shrubs are not mature enough to be sexed, so we are not able to determine whether the shrub you are receiving is male or female.
Dioecious shrubs are still beneficial to wildlife even if they do not produce fruit. These shrubs provide nectar and pollen to beneficial insects and provide habitat and cover for birds and small mammals. Spicebush is an important host plant for the Spicebush Swallowtail Butterfly. Other benefits of planting these shrubs include contributing to genetic diversity in the areas where they are planted, preventing soil erosion, and helping improve soil health.