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Myrica pensylvanica - Mirb

Common Name Northern Bayberry
Family Myricaceae
USDA hardiness 2-9
Known Hazards There is a report that some of the constituents of the wax might be carcinogenic[222].
Habitats Dry or wet sterile soil near the coast[43]. Coastal dunes, pine barrens, pine-oak forests, old fields, bogs, edges of streams, ponds, and swamps from sea level to 325 metres[270].
Range Eastern N. America. Possibly naturalized in Britain in the New Forest.
Edibility Rating    (3 of 5)
Other Uses    (3 of 5)
Weed Potential No
Medicinal Rating    (1 of 5)
Care (info)
Fully Hardy Well drained soil Moist Soil Semi-shade Full sun
Myrica pensylvanica Northern Bayberry


www.flickr.com/photos/53817483@N00
Myrica pensylvanica Northern Bayberry
USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database

 

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Summary

It is also classified as Morella pensylvanica.


Physical Characteristics

 icon of manicon of shrub
Myrica pensylvanica is a deciduous Shrub growing to 3 m (9ft) by 3 m (9ft).
See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 2. It is in flower from April to May, and the seeds ripen in October. The species is monoecious (individual flowers are either male or female, but both sexes can be found on the same plant) and is pollinated by Wind.
It can fix Nitrogen.
Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils and prefers well-drained soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid and neutral soils and can grow in very acid and saline soils.
It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It prefers dry or moist soil.

UK Hardiness Map US Hardiness Map

Synonyms

M. carolinensis. non Mill. M. cerifera latifolia.

Plant Habitats

Woodland Garden Sunny Edge; Dappled Shade; Hedge;

Edible Uses

Edible Parts: Fruit
Edible Uses: Condiment

Fruit - raw or cooked. The fruit is about 4mm in diameter and contains a single large seed[200]. There is very little edible flesh and this is of poor quality[K]. The leaves and fruit are used as a food flavouring in soups etc[62, 102, 183]. A bay leaf substitute, imparting a delicate aroma and subtle flavour[183]. The herb is removed before the food is served[183].

References   More on Edible Uses

Medicinal Uses

Plants For A Future can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.


The root bark is astringent and emetic in large doses[222]. A tea made from the leaves is used in the treatment of fevers and externally as a wash for itchy skin[222].

References   More on Medicinal Uses

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Other Uses

Dye  Hedge  Hedge  Wax

A wax covering on the fruit is extracted by scalding the fruit with boiling water and immersing them for a few minutes, the wax floats to the surface and is then skimmed off. The fruit is then boiled in water to extract the wax from the pulp and once more the wax is skimmed off. It is then strained through a muslin cloth and can be used to make aromatic candles[46, 106, 171]. Candles made from this wax are quite brittle but are less greasy in warm weather[213]. They are slightly aromatic, with a pleasant balsamic odour[245], and do not smoke when put out, making them much more pleasant to use that wax or tallow candles[213]. The wax is also used in making soaps[213]. A green dye is obtained from the leaves[106]. The plant is very wind hardy and can be grown as an informal hedge[200]. Carbon farming - Industrial Crop: wax. Agroforestry Services: nitrogen.

Special Uses

Carbon Farming  Food Forest  Hedge  Hedge  Nitrogen Fixer

References   More on Other Uses

Cultivation details

Agroforestry Services: Nitrogen  Industrial Crop: Wax  Management: Standard  Regional Crop

It is a temperate plant. Prefers a moist soil. Grows well in an open position in a well-drained soil in sun or light shade[200]. Thrives in any ordinary garden soil[11]. Prefers a lime-free loamy or peaty soil[1]. Does well in dry maritime sites[200]. Hardy to about -40°c[200]. Closely related to M. cerifera and perhaps no more than a hardier northern form of it[11], it has larger fruits than M. cerifera[182]. Where their ranges overlap, Myrica pensylvanica hybridizes quite readily with both M . cerifera and M . Heterophylla[270]. Tolerant of salt spread on roads[200]. Plants in this genus are notably resistant to honey fungus[200]. Many species in this genus have a symbiotic relationship with certain soil micro-organisms, these form nodules on the roots of the plants and fix atmospheric nitrogen. Some of this nitrogen is utilized by the growing plant but some can also be used by other plants growing nearby[200]. Carbon Farming - Climate: cold to warm temperate. Humidity: humid. Cultivation: regional crop. Management: standard. The plant is heat tolerant in zones 6 through 1. (Plant Hardiness Zones show how well plants withstand cold winter temperatures. Plant Heat Zones show when plants would start suffering from the heat. The Plant Heat Zone map is based on the number of "heat days" experienced in a given area where the temperature climbs to over 86 degrees F (30°C). At this temperature, many plants begin to suffer physiological damage. Heat Zones range from 1 (no heat days) to 12 (210 or more heat days). For example Heat Zone. 11-1 indicates that the plant is heat tolerant in zones 11 through 1.) For polyculture design as well as the above-ground architecture (form - tree, shrub etc. and size shown above) information on the habit and root pattern is also useful and given here if available. A clumping plant, forming a colony from shoots away from the crown but with a limited spread [1-2]. The root pattern is flat with shallow roots forming a plate near the soil surface [1-2]. The root pattern is a heart root, dividing from the crown into several primary roots going down and out [1-2]. The root pattern is stoloniferous rooting from creeping stems above the ground [1-2].

Carbon Farming

  • Agroforestry Services: Nitrogen  Plants that contribute to nitrogen fixation include the legume family – Fabaceae.
  • Industrial Crop: Wax  Water resistant, malleable substances. Currently, most commercial wax is made from paraffin - a fossil fuel.
  • Management: Standard  Plants grow to their standard height. Harvest fruit, seeds, or other products. Non-Destructive management systems.
  • Regional Crop  These crops have been domesticated and cultivated regionally but have not been adopted elsewhere and are typically not traded globally, Examples in this broad category include perennial cottons and many nuts and staple fruits.

References   Carbon Farming Information and Carbon Sequestration Information

Temperature Converter

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Plant Propagation

Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe in the autumn in a cold frame. Barely cover the seed and keep it moist. Stored seed germinates more freely if given a 3 month cold stratification and then sown in a cold frame. Germination is usually good[78]. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots when they are large enough to handle and grow on in the cold frame for the first winter. Plant out in late spring or early summer[K]. Cuttings of half-ripe wood, 5 - 8cm with a heel, July/August in a frame. Pot up and overwinter in a cold frame. Fair to good percentage[78]. Cuttings of mature wood in November/December in a frame. Layering in spring[200]. Division of suckers in the dormant season. Plant them out direct into their permanent positions.

Other Names

If available other names are mentioned here

Bayberry. Northern bayberry, Candleberry

Native Range

NORTHERN AMERICA: Canada, Québec (east), Nova Scotia, Ontario (Norfolk Co.), Prince Edward Island, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador (south), St. Pierre and Miquelon, United States, Connecticut, Maine (south), Massachusetts (east), New Hampshire (southeast), New Jersey, New York (southeast), Ohio (northeast), Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Delaware, Maryland, North Carolina (northeast),

Weed Potential

Right plant wrong place. We are currently updating this section. Please note that a plant may be invasive in one area but may not in your area so it’s worth checking.

Conservation Status

IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants Status :

Related Plants
Latin NameCommon NameHabitHeightHardinessGrowthSoilShadeMoistureEdibleMedicinalOther
Comptonia peregrinaSweet FernShrub1.5 3-6 MLMSNDM333
Comptonia peregrina asplenifoliaSweet FernShrub1.2 4-8  LMSNDM333
Melaleuca leucadendraPaperbark, Weeping PaperbarkTree30.0 10-12 FLMHNM243
Myrica californicaCalifornian Bayberry, California Wax Myrtle, California BarberryShrub4.0 7-11 MLMHSNM313
Myrica ceriferaWax Myrtle - Bayberry Wild Cinnamon, Southern Bayberry, Wax Myrtle, Southern Wax MyrtleShrub9.0 7-11 FLMHSNM334
Myrica galeBog Myrtle, SweetgaleShrub2.0 2-9  LMHSNMWe224
Myrica heterophyllaBayberryShrub3.0 5-9  LMHSNDM323
Myrica nagiBox MyrtleTree12.0 -  LMHSNM233
Myrica rubraChinese BayberryShrub15.0 9-11  LMHSNM223
Myricaria elegans Shrub3.5 -  LMHNM011
Myricaria germanica Shrub2.0 5-9  LMHNM011
Myricaria squamosa Shrub0.0 -  LMHNM02 

Growth: S = slow M = medium F = fast. Soil: L = light (sandy) M = medium H = heavy (clay). pH: A = acid N = neutral B = basic (alkaline). Shade: F = full shade S = semi-shade N = no shade. Moisture: D = dry M = Moist We = wet Wa = water.

 

Expert comment

Author

Mirb

Botanical References

11200270

Links / References

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Readers comment

Robert Gergulics   Sat Apr 11 2009

photos here:www.photrobg.com

www.photorobg.com

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