Summary
Common bayberry is a versatile shrub that can be used in a wide variety of garden situations. This suckering shrub is very adaptable and grows under dry conditions in full sun to filtered shade, preferring acidic soils, but tolerating neutral soils. Morella pensylvanica is an upright, rounded shrub that is deciduous to semi-evergreen and grows to 5-10’ tall. Common bayberry blooms in spring with inconspicuous yellow flowers. It has aromatic foliage and stems and develops blue fruit with a waxy coating. Combine this shrub with other tough plants in the low-maintenance shrub border such as Rhus aromatica ‘Gro-Low’, Aronia arbutifolia, Diervilla sessilifolia, and Viburnum acerifolium.
More Details
- Plant Type
shrub - Sun/Shade Conditions
filtered-shade, full-sun - Foliage Character
deciduous, semi-evergreen - Soil Moisture
average, dry, moist - Flowering Period
early-spring, 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
USDA Plants Database, North Carolina State University, Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center