Northern Bayberry

Northern Bayberry
Myrica pensylvanica

Limited Quantities

A tough and attractive native shrub, Bayberry is best known for its aromatic foliage, silvery-gray berries, and exceptional adaptability to challenging growing conditions. Its dense, rounded form provides year-round structure, while the leathery, dark green leaves release a pleasant fragrance when crushed.

Small flowers appear in spring, followed by clusters of waxy blue-gray berries on female plants in late summer and fall. These persistent fruits are especially valuable to wildlife and have historically been used to make fragrant bayberry wax. Bayberry is dioecious, meaning male and female plants are separate, so both are needed for reliable fruit production.

Highly tolerant of poor, sandy, dry, and salt-exposed soils, Bayberry is an excellent choice for shoreline restoration, hedgerows, naturalized landscapes, and difficult planting sites. Its ability to fix nitrogen also makes it an important pioneer species in nutrient-poor soils.

Growing Conditions

Height: 5–10 ft
Spread: 5–10 ft
Light: Full sun to part shade
Soil: Sandy, well-drained, acidic to neutral soils; tolerant of poor and dry conditions
Hardiness: Zone 3–7
Growth Rate: Moderate
Excellent tolerance of drought, salt, wind, and poor soils
Ideal for shorelines, sandy soils, hedgerows, restoration projects, and naturalized landscapes.

Ecological Value

• Berries provide an important late-season food source for birds, especially tree swallows and other fruit-eating species.
• Dense branching provides excellent cover and nesting habitat for birds and small mammals.
• Nitrogen-fixing roots help improve nutrient-poor soils.
• Excellent species for shoreline stabilization and restoration of challenging sites.
• Provides habitat and structure throughout the year.

Larval Host Plant For

Supports the larvae of several native moth species and provides valuable habitat for birds and beneficial insects.

Companion Species

New Jersey Tea (Ceanothus americanus)
Lowbush Blueberry (Vaccinium angustifolium)
Bearberry (Arctostaphylos uva-ursi)
Wild Lupine (Lupinus perennis)
Butterfly Milkweed (Asclepias tuberosa)
Little Bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium)
Nodding Wild Onion (Allium cernuum)

Planting to Protect
Restoring to Thrive
Origin Native Plants

Gallon Pots