Summary
Common bayberry (Morella pensylvanica) is a versatile, upright, rounded, suckering, deciduous to semi-evergreen shrub that grows to 5-10’ tall and can be used in a wide variety of garden situations. Very adaptable and growing under dry conditions in full sun to filtered shade, it prefers acidic soils, but tolerates neutral soils. Common bayberry has aromatic foliage and stems and blooms in spring with inconspicuous yellow flowers followed by blue fruit with a waxy coating. Combine this shrub with other tough plants in the low-maintenance shrub border such as fragrant sumac (Rhus aromatica ), red chokeberry (Aronia arbutifolia), smooth southern bush-honeysuckle (Diervilla sessilifolia), and mapleleaf viburnum (Viburnum acerifolium). Zones 3-7.
More Details
- Plant Type
shrub - Sun/Shade Conditions
filtered-shade-to-full-sun - Foliage Character
deciduous, semi-evergreen - Soil Moisture
dry-to-moist - Flowering Period
mid-spring - Soil PH
acidic - Flower Color
yellow - Summer Foliage Color
green - Other Scientific Names
Myrica pensylvanica
- Fall Foliage Color
green - Fruit/Seed Color
blue
Additional Information
Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center, Missouri Botanical Garden , UConn Plant database