ExplorePlants

northern bayberry

Morella pensylvanica

Northern bayberry is a lovely shrub that grows along the coast. It has shiny green leaves and produces small, waxy berries that are grayish-blue. Birds love to eat these berries!

Habitat: Coastal areas

Appearance

The northern bayberry is a dense, semi-evergreen shrub with gray-green, aromatic leaves. It produces small, waxy, blue-gray berries in tight clusters that persist through winter, making it visually distinct from many other shrubs.

KingdomPlantaePhylumTracheophytaClassMagnoliopsidaOrderFagalesFamilyMyricaceaeGenusMorella
northern bayberry
shrub trait badgeevergreen trait badgefruit_bearing trait badgesalt_tolerant trait badge
northern bayberry

Category

Plants

Rarity

Common

Danger

1/5 · Very low

Snaps

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Interesting facts

Bayberry is famous for its berries being used to make fragrant, long-burning candles!

Native Americans boiled bayberry bark to create a traditional yellow dye.

Rub a bayberry leaf and it releases a wonderful spicy, fresh scent!

The waxy coating on its berries helps keep them safe for hungry winter birds.

Special abilities

Ability

Saltwater Survivor

This plant has tough adaptations to tolerate salty ocean spray and sandy soils, thriving where others can't.

Ability

Winter Food Factory

Its waxy, blue berries provide a high-energy food source for birds, even when other foods are scarce.

Measurements & details

Height
150-300 cm
Spread
150-250 cm
Flower Size
0.5-1 cm
Bloom Season
Spring
Edible
No
Toxicity
None
Lifecycle
Perennial
Pollination Method
Wind

Ecological connections

Traits

Also known as

No aliases listed yet.

Collections

Safety

Danger

1/5 · Very low

While the berries are fun to look at, it's best not to eat them without asking an adult.

Frequently Asked Questions

How tall is northern bayberry?

150-300 cm

How wide does northern bayberry spread?

150-250 cm

How big are the flowers on northern bayberry?

0.5-1 cm

When does northern bayberry bloom?

Spring

Is northern bayberry edible?

No

Is northern bayberry toxic?

None

What is northern bayberry's lifecycle?

Perennial

How is northern bayberry pollinated?

Wind

Snap Map

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Where to spot

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