Bayberry is a native evergreen shrub or small tree in the Myricaceae (myrtle) family found growing in the coastal plain regions of North America. It grows 6 to 8 feet tall and 5 to 9 feet wide with dark green leaves. Leaves are wider than on M. cerifera and not as fragrant. The bark is thin, smooth, and gray-brown. In spring, small male and female flowers appaer on separate shrubs. Waxy round bluish-white fruits that mature on female plants in clusters on short stalks. Propagate by seed from the female plants or allow the rhizomatous stems form colonies. This woody understory shrub performs well in the elusive dry shade as well as wetland conditions and makes an excellent addition to a wildlife garden as it provides food and cover for birds along with being a butterfly host plant. Prune it into a small tree and use near a patio or pond planting or in shrub form use it as a screen or hedge plant. When pruning, keep in mind that next season's blossoms and fruit will appear on old growth. Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: No serious problems.
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day) | Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day) | Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Soil texture
Clay; Loam (Silt); Sand
Soil drainage
Moist | Occasionally Dry | Occasionally Wet
NC region
Coastal; Piedmont
Mature size
Height: 6 ft. 0 in. - 8 ft. 0 in. | Width: 5 ft. 0 in. - 9 ft. 0 in.
Growth rate
Medium
Maintenance
Low
Canopy layer
3 - Shrub (3-15 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Dense; Erect; Rounded
Texture
Medium
Foliage
Broadleaf Evergreen; Semi-evergreen
Leaf color
Green
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf arrangement
Alternate
Leaf shape
Elliptical; Obovate
Leaf margin
Serrate
Leaf feel
Leathery; Waxy
Leaf value
Fragrant
Leaf size
1-3 inches long, < 1 inch wide
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
Waxy, leathery, simple alternate dark green leaves with toothed margins. Blades are 1-3 inches long and 1/4- 1 inch wide and have resinous glands on the underside.
Flower color
Gold/Yellow; Green
Flower form
Insignificant
Flower detail
Small male and female slim cylindrical flowers appear late spring to early summer.
Bloom time
Spring; Summer
Fruit color
Blue; Gray/Silver; Green; White
Fruit detail
Small green to blue-white to grey dry waxy globose fruit that does not split open. Fruits are on female plants only and appear from late summer to early fall.
Bark color
Dark Brown; Dark Gray; White
Bark detail
Thin, smooth and white to gray/brown.
Stem detail
Three or more scales overlap like shingles, hairy stems
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Native
Origin
Pennsylvania to Eastern Texas
Distribution
Primarily in coastal plains of SE US
Wildlife value
It provides excellent winter and extreme weather coverage. It is a host plant for the Red-banded Hairstreak butterfly. Its fruits are eaten by birds, especially yellow-rumped warblers (which are very efficient at digesting the waxy fruits), in the fall and winter.
Attracts
Butterflies; Songbirds
Food & Medicine
Edible parts
Leaves
Harvest time
Fall; Summer
Edibility
Leaves can be used like bay leaves to flavor soups, stews, etc.
Uses (ethnobotany)
The waxy coating on the fruits has been used in candle making.