Myrica pensylvanica

Common Names

Bayberry, Northern Bayberry, Candleberry, Swamp Candleberry

Summary

Northern Bayberry (Myrica pensylvanica) is a coastal eastern North American shrub native from Newfoundland to North Carolina, typically 5–12 feet tall and wide, often multi-stemmed and suckering to form colonies, it features glossy, leathery, aromatic leaves and blue-gray, waxy berries that persist into winter, with inconspicuous yellow-green catkins on separate male and female plants; foliage releases a bayberry fragrance when crushed, Cultivation and use: grows best in full sun to partial shade on sandy, acidic, well-drained soils but tolerates a wide range including poor, clay, dry, or moist sites and wind and salt spray, drought-tolerant once established and nitrogen-fixing, forms dense thickets via suckering and is suitable for hedges, screens, erosion control, mass plantings, or coastal/roadside plantings, since plants are dioecious, at least one male is needed for fruit set, propagation is possible from softwood cuttings or seeds, typically low maintenance with wildlife value as berries feed birds.

Lifecycle

Perennial

Height

60-120 inches

Spread

60-120 inches

Hardiness Zones

Zones 3-7

Sunlight Requirements

Full Sun to Partial Shade.

Soil Type

Well-drained soil, especially sandy or loamy soils

Soil Drainage

Well-drained soil kept moist (not waterlogged)

Soil pH

Acidic to slightly acidic soils

Bloom Color

Insignificant

Bloom Time

Spring

Foliage Color

Green

Fall Foliage Color

Green

Leaf Lifecycle

Deciduous

Growth Rate

Medium, 1-2 feet per year

Seasons of Interest

Spring, Fall, and Winter

Propagation Methods

Seeds, Layering, Cuttings, Division, Suckers

Attracts Wildlife

Attracts birds and bees