We need help! In recent months our income dropped considerably and we need more donations from our users to avoid getting into financial difficulty. More >>>

Follow Us:

 

myrica rubra - (Lour.)Siebold.&Zucc.

Common Name Chinese Bayberry
Family Myricaceae
USDA hardiness 9-11
Known Hazards Although no reports of toxicity have been seen for this species, there is a report for some members of this genus that some of the constituents of the wax might be carcinogenic[222].
Habitats Forests of C. and S. Japan[58]. Coastal districts in warm countries[174].
Range E. Asia - China, Japan.
Edibility Rating    (2 of 5)
Other Uses    (3 of 5)
Weed Potential No
Medicinal Rating    (2 of 5)
Care (info)
Tender Moist Soil Semi-shade Full sun
myrica rubra Chinese Bayberry


http://www.flickr.com/photos/zeping/
myrica rubra Chinese Bayberry
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:KENPEI

 

Translate this page:

Summary


Physical Characteristics

 icon of manicon of shrub
myrica rubra is an evergreen Shrub growing to 15 m (49ft 3in).
See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 10. It is in leaf all year. 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. It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It prefers moist soil.

UK Hardiness Map US Hardiness Map

Synonyms

M. nagi. non Thunb.

Plant Habitats

Woodland Garden Sunny Edge; South Wall. By. West Wall. By.

Edible Uses

Edible Parts: Fruit  Seed
Edible Uses:

Fruit - raw or cooked[1, 105]. Succulent and aromatic[82], it has an agreeable sub-acid taste[183]. Juicy, sweetish and sour according to another report[174]. The fruit soon rots so it is difficult to grow commercially because of the problems of getting it to market in good condition[174]. The fruit is up to 25mm in diameter[200]. The seed is said to be edible[61, 177, 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.
Astringent  Cardiac  Carminative  Cholera  Pectoral  Skin  Stomachic  Vulnerary


Astringent, carminative, vulnerary[174, 178]. The stem bark is used as a wash in the treatment of arsenic poisoning, skin diseases, wounds and ulcers[218]. The fruit is carminative, pectoral and stomachic[218]. The seed is used in the treatment of sweaty feet[218]. The plant is used in the treatment of cholera, heart ailments and stomach diseases[218].

References   More on Medicinal Uses

The Bookshop: Edible Plant Books

Our Latest books on Perennial Plants For Food Forests and Permaculture Gardens in paperback or digital formats.

Food Forest Plants for Hotter Conditions: 250+ Plants For Tropical Food Forests & Permaculture Gardens.
Edible Tropical Plants

Food Forest Plants for Hotter Conditions: 250+ Plants For Tropical Food Forests & Permaculture Gardens.

More
Plants for Your Food Forest: 500 Plants for Temperate Food Forests & Permaculture Gardens.
Edible Temperate Plants

Plants for Your Food Forest: 500 Plants for Temperate Food Forests & Permaculture Gardens.

More
PFAF have eight books available in paperback and digital media.
More Books

PFAF have eight books available in paperback and digital formats. Browse the shop for more information.

Shop Now

Other Uses

Dye

A yellow dye is obtained from the plant[174]. (The part of the plant is not specified). Nitrogen Fixer.

Special Uses

Food Forest  Nitrogen Fixer

References   More on Other Uses

Cultivation details

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]. Not very hardy in Britain, it succeeds outdoors in the milder areas of the country according to one report[1], whilst another says that it only succeeds in zone 10 and does not tolerate frosts[200]. Plants succeed outdoors in Japan as far north as Tokyo, but it is difficult to get them to fruit there[174].. This plant has been recommended for improvement by selection and breeding for its edible fruit. 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].

References   Carbon Farming Information and Carbon Sequestration Information

Temperature Converter

Type a value in the Celsius field to convert the value to Fahrenheit:

Fahrenheit:

image

The PFAF Bookshop

Plants For A Future have a number of books available in paperback and digital form. Book titles include Edible Plants, Edible Perennials, Edible Trees,Edible Shrubs, Woodland Gardening, and Temperate Food Forest Plants. Our new book is Food Forest Plants For Hotter Conditions (Tropical and Sub-Tropical).

Shop Now

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

Native Range

TEMPERATE ASIA: Fujian Sheng, Guangdong Sheng, Guangxi Zhuangzu Zizhiqu, Guizhou Sheng, Honshu (south), Hunan Sheng, Japan, Jiangsu Sheng, Jiangxi Sheng, Korea, Kyushu, Ryukyu Islands, Shikoku, Sichuan Sheng, South, Taiwan, Yunnan Sheng, Zhejiang Sheng,China. TROPICAL ASIA: Philippines,

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 pensylvanicaNorthern BayberryShrub3.0 2-9  LMHSNDM313
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

(Lour.)Siebold.&Zucc.

Botanical References

58200266

Links / References

For a list of references used on this page please go here

Readers comment

Yechezkel Schatz   Wed Jun 25 12:19:37 2003

I found the Japanese name Yamamomo (or Yama momo) for the fruit.

J.X.   Fri Mar 3 2006

The fruit has a wonderful unique taste. In China, all fruit is picked ripe on the tree (unlike in North American practice). The fruit does not ripen well after it is picked. In China it seems to grow in colder places than zone 10, nor does it tolerate extreme tropical climates.

Rob   Sun Dec 7 2008

Edibility rating 2 ??? In China the fruit has been grown for 2,000 years. It’s so popular there that about twice as many acres are cultivated as the acres cultivated of apples in the US.

GreenMan   Tue Mar 10 2009

Where can I get a plant?

Pedro   Thu Oct 15 2009

Hello, my name Pedfro'm Spanish What price Myrica rubra seed? yamamomo.

Add a comment

If you have important information about this plant that may help other users please add a comment or link below. Only comments or links that are felt to be directly relevant to a plant will be included. If you think a comment/link or information contained on this page is inaccurate or misleading we would welcome your feedback at [email protected]. If you have questions about a plant please use the Forum on this website as we do not have the resources to answer questions ourselves.

* Please note: the comments by website users are not necessarily those held by PFAF and may give misleading or inaccurate information.

To leave a comment please Register or login here All comments need to be approved so will not appear immediately.

Subject : myrica rubra  
All the information contained in these pages is Copyright (C) Plants For A Future, 1996-2012.
Plants For A Future is a charitable company limited by guarantee, registered in England and Wales. Charity No. 1057719, Company No. 3204567,
Web Design & Management
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons License. Some information cannot be used for commercial reasons or be modified (but some can). Please view the copyright link for more information.