Myrica pensylvanica
Northern Bayberry

Also known as: Morella pensylvanica

Myrica pensylvanica - Shrub Habit

Family:

Myricaceae (Bayberry Family) 1

Genus:

Myrica (Bayberry Candleberry) 1

Plant Type:

Shrub/Tree 80

Growth Forms:

Suckering / Colonizing 37

Hardiness:

USDA Zone 3 233

Deciduous / Evergreen:

Semi-evergreen 27

Flower Notes:

Yellow (Flowers in catkins (females lack petals and sepals) early before leaves; not ornamentally important)

Foliage Notes:

Green (Attractive glossy dark green aromatic foliage in spring/summer/fall; semi-evergreen foliage has no fall color change before falling in winter)

Fruit Notes:

Blue (Extremely glaucous berries persist late into winter)

Ultimate Height:

5-12 feet

Ultimate Spread:

5-12 feet

Fruiting Times:

Light Requirements:

Soil Notes:

Widely adapted to soils, but prefers sandy soils

Range:

Parts of Northeastern United States and adjacent Canada, especially near lakes and seashores

Diagnostic Characteristics:

Leaves are simple, alternate, obovate to oblong, 1.5-4" long and 0.5-1.5" wide, entire or shallow toothed toward apex, and pubescent above. Leaves are resin dotted and aromatic when crushed.

Purdue Plant Doctor

Parts and Problems of Bayberry, WaxMyrtle

Special Characteristics:

Mass Plantings 288

Notable Texture 282

Salt Tolerant 60

Additional Information

Waxy gray berries were used by early settlers for making aromatic candles, and occasionally still are used for this purpose. Especially good plant for full sun and sandy soils, but grows well on many soils. Tolerates half shade. Relatively salt-tolerant. Forms colonies via suckers. Fixes nitrogen in the soil. Dioecious. Use female plants (when known) for fruiting, and occasional male for pollination. Difficult to transplant from field.

Plant Photo Gallery

Myrica pensylvanica - Shrub Habit

Shrub Habit

Myrica pensylvanica - Leaf

Leaf

Myrica pensylvanica - Bark

Bark

Myrica pensylvanica - Mature Fruit

Mature Fruit

Myrica pensylvanica - Fruit on Stems in Winter

Fruit on Stems in Winter

Myrica pensylvanica - Fruit & Foliage

Fruit & Foliage

Myrica pensylvanica - Winter Habit

Winter Habit

Myrica pensylvanica - Remnant Foliage in Winter

Remnant Foliage in Winter

Myrica pensylvanica - Fruits in Winter

Fruits in Winter

Myrica pensylvanica - Fruits in Winter

Fruits in Winter

Myrica pensylvanica - Immature Fruit

Immature Fruit

Myrica pensylvanica - Winter Habit

Winter Habit

Myrica pensylvanica - Emerging Foliage and Immature Flowers

Emerging Foliage and Immature Flowers

Myrica pensylvanica - Mature Flowers

Mature Flowers

When Myrica pensylvanica has been observed flowering or fruiting at Purdue University

Flowering

Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec

Week 1 flowering not present	Week 2 flowering not present	Week 3 flowering not present	Week 4 flowering not present	Week 5 flowering not present	Week 6 flowering not present	Week 7 flowering not present	Week 8 flowering not present	Week 9 flowering not present	Week 10 flowering not present	Week 11 flowering not present	Week 12 flowering not present	Week 13 flowering not present	Week 14 flowering not present	Week 15 flowering not present	Week 16 flowering not present	Week 17 flowering not present	Week 18 flowering present	Week 19 flowering present	Week 20 flowering present	Week 21 flowering present	Week 22 flowering present	Week 23 flowering present	Week 24 flowering not present	Week 25 flowering not present	Week 26 flowering not present	Week 27 flowering not present	Week 28 flowering not present	Week 29 flowering not present	Week 30 flowering not present	Week 31 flowering not present	Week 32 flowering not present	Week 33 flowering not present	Week 34 flowering not present	Week 35 flowering not present	Week 36 flowering not present	Week 37 flowering not present	Week 38 flowering not present	Week 39 flowering not present	Week 40 flowering not present	Week 41 flowering not present	Week 42 flowering not present	Week 43 flowering not present	Week 44 flowering not present	Week 45 flowering not present	Week 46 flowering not present	Week 47 flowering not present	Week 48 flowering not present	Week 49 flowering not present	Week 50 flowering not present	Week 51 flowering not present	Week 52 flowering not present

Fruiting

Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec

Week 1 fruiting present	Week 2 fruiting present	Week 3 fruiting present	Week 4 fruiting present	Week 5 fruiting present	Week 6 fruiting present	Week 7 fruiting present	Week 8 fruiting present	Week 9 fruiting present	Week 10 fruiting present	Week 11 fruiting present	Week 12 fruiting present	Week 13 fruiting present	Week 14 fruiting not present	Week 15 fruiting not present	Week 16 fruiting not present	Week 17 fruiting not present	Week 18 fruiting not present	Week 19 fruiting not present	Week 20 fruiting not present	Week 21 fruiting not present	Week 22 fruiting not present	Week 23 fruiting not present	Week 24 fruiting not present	Week 25 fruiting not present	Week 26 fruiting not present	Week 27 fruiting not present	Week 28 fruiting not present	Week 29 fruiting not present	Week 30 fruiting not present	Week 31 fruiting present	Week 32 fruiting present	Week 33 fruiting present	Week 34 fruiting present	Week 35 fruiting present	Week 36 fruiting present	Week 37 fruiting present	Week 38 fruiting present	Week 39 fruiting present	Week 40 fruiting present	Week 41 fruiting present	Week 42 fruiting present	Week 43 fruiting present	Week 44 fruiting present	Week 45 fruiting present	Week 46 fruiting present	Week 47 fruiting present	Week 48 fruiting present	Week 49 fruiting present	Week 50 fruiting present	Week 51 fruiting present	Week 52 fruiting present

4 Myrica pensylvanica found

Building Map...

= Heritage plant = Memorial plant

Number	Accession ID	Location
1	2017_00213*A	HCR
2	2017_00214*A	HCR
3	2009_11922*A	HANS
4	2017_00111*A	HCR

Other plants like this Myrica pensylvanica (Northern Bayberry)

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