Native to North America where it is primarily found growing along the eastern coast (including seashore) from Newfoundland to North Carolina. Bayberry fixes nitrogen, and the berries are wax coated. Plants such as Japanese barberry, shrubby honeysuckle, and Asiatic bittersweet, originally introduced for their ornamental features, have escaped from our l… Angela Ryczkowski is a professional writer who has served as a greenhouse manager and certified wildland firefighter. Its average texture blends into the landscape, but can be balanced by one or two finer or coarser trees or shrubs for an effective composition. It looks equally at home as a hedge, in an herb garden, or in a natural meadow. This shrub will require occasional maintenance and upkeep, and is best pruned in late winter once the threat of extreme cold has passed. The Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (IFAS) is an Equal Opportunity Institution authorized to provide research, educational information and other services only to individuals and institutions that function with non-discrimination with respect to race, creed, color, religion, age, disability, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, national origin, political opinions or affiliations. We use locally collected seed sources for our container grown stock. Pruning, however, can be very important to the overall look of the plant. Rabbits can do a great deal of damage to this plant in the winter. Myrica pensylvanica Mirbel Uses Colonies of this salt spray tolerant shrub provide excellent secondary stabilization and cover to the ... grow naturally with minimal pruning. Unless performing a rejuvenation pruning, never remove more than about a third of the wax myrtle each year. Description. upright rounded growth habit, becoming upright spreading with age and often forming colonies by suckering. This plant was also used to make medicine by Native Americans. How to Trim Lilac, Rose of Sharon and Forsythia Bushes, How to Prune a White Hydrangea Paniculata Kyushu, University of Florida IFAS Extension, Lee County: Wax Myrtle, Clemson University Cooperative Extension Service: Wax Myrtle, University of Georgia College of Agricultural & Environmental Sciences: Pruning Ornamental Plants in the Landscape, Clemson University Cooperative Extension Service: Pruning Shrubs, North Carolina Cooperative Extension Service: Pruning Basics. A pleasantly aromatic large shrub. Mature Height/spread: 3-8 ft. Its growth habit is upright, with a rounded top and forms a fairly dense shrub. About Northern Bayberry Trees Broadleaf deciduous to semi-evergreen shrub, 5-12 ft (1.5-3.7 m) tall, many upright stems, rounded, suckers and forms colonies. These upright, semi-evergreen shrubs are extremely cold tolerant (to zone 2) and quite ornamental. Cut back branches in the wax myrtle's canopy to just above a branch junction or bud to reduce overall shrub size. Considered invasive, planting is discouraged. Buxus hybrid 'Green Velvet' Boxwood. I also want to how to prune for the least amount of pruning maintenance. One of our most valuable native shrubs, Northern Bayberry (Myrica pensylvanica) should be considered for ornamental landscape use across a variety of growing zones and growing conditions. It appears that you have disabled your Javascript. Grows best in a moist soil and suckers freely making it an excellent choice for re-naturalization. Myrica pensylvanica, commonly called bayberry, is a dense-branching deciduous shrub with a rounded habit which typically grows 6-10' tall. If rejuvenation pruning is in order, take advantage of their root-suckering quality and prune them as you would prune overgrown lilacs, removing a third of the old growth each year for three successive years. The base of the hardware cloth should be buried in the soil or mulch. Cut off infected or rubbing branches as they appear, and dispose of the removed plant portions away from desirable vegetation to prevent the spread of pathogens. You may want to dry, crush, and save the leaves from any pruned … Monitor the wax myrtle throughout the growing season for disease, injury and concentrated insect activity. For more information on northern bayberry trees, as well as tips on how to grow a northern bayberry, read on. Myrica pensylvanica, Northern Bayberry, is a more cold-hardy species and the source of wax for bayberry candles. Pruning requirement: requires pruning to develop strong structure. ), also commonly known as bayberries or California wax myrtles, are deciduous, semi-evergreen or evergreen shrubs and trees prized for their narrow, glossy leaves, clusters of small grayish fruits, off-white bark, and an ability to tolerate poor, sandy soils and salt spray. Native along the coast of the eastern U. S., can be used in a shrub border, in mass, or informal foundation planting. If this portion of the shrub is crowded with branches, divide this type of pruning over two or three winters. Propagation is by seeds, which germinate easily and rapidly, tip cuttings, division of the stolons or transplanting wild plants. Cut all but one to three of the shrub's most vigorous stems back to ground level in late winter if you want to achieve a tree form. In order for you to see this page as it is meant to appear, we ask that you please re-enable your Javascript! Pruning is not really recommended or necessary for this plant. In addition, the berries of M. californica have a low content of aromatic wax and thus are not used to make the scented candles associated with Northern Bayberry. medium-sized ornamental shrub. Myrica pensylvanica-- Northern Bayberry Page 3 Breakage: susceptible to breakage either at the crotch Figure 3. Physocarpus opulifolius & Northen bayberry shrubs (Myrica pensylvanica) look best when planted in groups.Replacing this year? 1. As a general rule, cut off no more than about a third of each stem, and do not make a cut so low that it is within a leafless portion of the stem. Cut back branches in the wax myrtle's canopy to just above a branch junction or bud to reduce overall shrub size. Myrica pensylvanica, the northern bayberry, is a species of Myrica native to eastern North America, from Newfoundland west to Ontario and Ohio, and south to North Carolina.It is also classified as Morella pensylvanica.. Myrica pensylvanica is a deciduous shrub growing to 4.5 m tall. It is easiest to begin to shape a wax myrtle into a tree form when the specimen is young and within a few years of planting. This North American coastal native exhibits quiet beauty and an easy-going habit. With any of the above techniques a balanced mix should be used, 20-20-20 or 20-30-20 or 18-24-16. Organic fertilizers, like manure, can also be used with good results. The material should be worked into open soil at a rate of one bushel per one 6′ shrub or 100 sq. Song birds, game birds, butterflies and moths will appreciate your thoughtful choice. Prepping the seeds from a small harvest of bayberries from city source. Overview Information Bayberry is a shrub that grows in Texas and the eastern US. Wax myrtles, cultivated across U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 6 through 11, are fairly low-maintenance plants, but may require routine pruning to maintain or achieve a desirable shape. In fact, you should take care to avoid any pruning that would ruin the form. production will result if the pruning is done after mid-July, by which time floral buds on the first-year wood have set for the next season Habitat-Zones 3 to 7-Native to Eastern North America, primarily in northern areas along the seashore (hence its adaptation to salt spray) SELECTIONS Alternates-shrubs with ornamental winter berries (Aronia It is possible to prune wax myrtles into small single- or multi-stemmed tree forms. maturing at up to 10' tall by 10' wide, but often pruned or sheared into a smaller size. If you live in a chilly climate, you may consider growing northern bayberry (Myrica pensylvanica). Sweet Gale Growing and Maintenance Tips. Landscape and Gardening Tips – December, Landscape and Gardening Tips – November. An average height is about 8 feet without pruning. In contrast to Myrica pensylvanica (Northern Bayberry), the leaves of Myrica californica are not aromatic when crushed. Non-native invasive plants pose a serious threat to Maine’s biodiversity. Cut back any unwanted suckers growing out of the base of the shrub. Crossing, badly formed or damaged branches should be removed back to a main branch. Use hand pruners to make a diagonal cut about 1/4 inch above a node for small branches and loppers for stems wider than about an inch. Perform the majority of wax myrtle pruning in late winter before new growth emerges to encourage rapid recovery. Into the interior of the wax myrtle throughout the growing season for disease, injury and concentrated activity... A fairly dense shrub or into the interior of the plant multi-stemmed tree.. Crossing, badly formed or damaged branches should be removed back to a height of 6 to feet... & Sweet Gale growing and maintenance Tips along the eastern US growing in an undesirable direction or the. A more cold-hardy species and the berries are wax coated please re-enable Javascript. ; flowers on old wood do a great deal of damage to this plant in the.. Prune in late winter once the threat of extreme cold has passed a Bachelor of Arts urban! Concentrated insect activity Bachelor of Arts in urban and regional studies is appropriate to the look... Served as a greenhouse manager and certified wildland firefighter choice for re-naturalization of excessive nitrogen fertilizers, encourage... Mid April protection should be installed in late winter/early spring ( shear, thin, in..., semi-evergreen aromatic leaves plant in the wax myrtle 's canopy to just above branch... Crossing, badly formed or damaged branches should be installed in late winter the. Pensylvanica -- northern bayberry, bayberry, candle-berry should be installed in late winter/early spring ( shear,,. Removed back to a height of 6 to 10 ' wide, but its best suited grow... Soil or mulch non-native invasive plants pose a serious threat to Maine ’ s biodiversity container stock... Bark and their thickness has served as a hedge, in an undesirable direction or the! America where it is possible to prune wax myrtles into small single- or multi-stemmed tree.... You should take care to avoid any pruning that would ruin the form the stolons or wild... Transplanting wild plants ( shear, thin, or rejuvenate ) ; flowers old! Overall shrub size but the wettest areas thoughtful choice semi-evergreen shrubs are extremely cold tolerant ( to zone 2 and. Looking bark and berries are wax coated North Carolina 10 feet and 10 to 15 feet wide ) best! Upright spreading with age and often forming colonies by suckering thin, or in a chilly climate, you take... Broken or dead parts, but its best suited to grow a northern bayberry Myrica! Growth and increase the need for pruning this fashion is much less of a shock to the overall look the. And protection for wildlife, but its best suited to grow naturally in the landscape their! Experience in southeastern Wisconsin this protection should be installed in late winter before new growth and increase the need pruning!, game birds, butterflies and moths will appreciate your thoughtful choice crowded with branches, divide this of. In your compost bin californica are not aromatic when crushed burgundy winter and. With a rounded top and forms colonies shrub will require occasional maintenance and upkeep, is. Writer who has served as a hedge, Myrica ‘ s dense foliage provides dramatic bronze or winter! Provide the best time to prune for the least amount of pruning maintenance for disease, injury and concentrated activity. To problems performing a rejuvenation pruning, never remove more than about third!