Leatherwood

Dirca palustris is an early-spring blooming deciduous shrub that provides nectar and pollen to honeybees during a time when floral resources are scarce. Flowers emerge in late winter to early spring, with peak bloom typically in March, attracting small bees to its bell-shaped blooms. It prefers moist, calcareous soils in shaded woodlands and has flexible but brittle stems that may require protection from heavy browsing.