Northern Bayberry

Scientific Name: Morella pensylvanica (Mirb.) Kartesz

Northern Bayberry

General Information
Usda Symbol	MOPE6
Group	Dicot
Life Cycle	Perennial
Growth Habits	ShrubTree,
Native Locations	MOPE6

Plant Guide

Description

General: Northern bayberry is a native perennial shrub often identified by its strongly aromatic nature. Under ideal conditions, northern bayberry may reach heights of up to 15 feet (4.5 m) and spread laterally via rhizomatous growth up to 10 feet (3 m) (Duncan and Duncan, 1987; MBG, 2017). The often multi stemmed shrub has an upright and rounded growth habit and is deciduous throughout its range, but may remain semi-evergreen at the southern extent or over mild winters throughout the rest of its range (MBG, 2017). The dark green, glossy leaves are alternately arranged and sometimes slightly toothed towards the tips measuring 2-4 in (5-10 cm) long and 0.3-0.5 in (.75-1.25 cm) wide (Silberhorn, 1999). They may be dotted with resin and are tear drop shaped tapering towards the stem. When crushed, they release a strong aromatic fragrance (MBG, 2017). The primary stems are typically light gray like the mature branches which may display a silvery hue. New growth begins green and turns tan after the initial growing season when it takes on the appearance of the more mature branches (Rhodus, n.d.). Northern bayberry is primarily a dioecious (male and female flowers on separate plants) species. Both male and female flowers are inconspicuous catkins; male flowers are yellowish green while female flowers lack both sepals and petals (Brand, 2015). Male catkins (0.4-1.8 cm) are generally longer than female catkins (0.3-1.4 cm) (Moore, 2004). The flowering period usually begins in April, but inflorescences may occur anytime between spring and early summer (Rhodus, n.d.; FNAEC, 1997). Female flowers are wind pollinated, forming clusters of single seeded drupes below leafy stem tips in the summer (Moore, 2004; Silberhorn, 1999). The immature sessile fruits are green and covered with a dense hair (Rhodus, n.d.; Duncan and Duncan, 1987). Upon maturation, the fruits develop a bluish gray color and the hairs become masked by a waxy coating (FNAEC, 1997). The fruit may range from 0.1-0.2 in (2.5-5.5 mm) in diameter (Silberhorn, 1999; Duncan and Duncan, 1987). Fruit, not consumed by wildlife, persists well into winter if (Dickerson, 2002). Distribution: Northern bayberry is found along the Mid-Atlantic coastal region forming scattered clumps in stable dune areas. It is indigenous to the Eastern United States and Canada occurring from southern Newfoundland south to the coastal plains of North Carolina and inland as far west as Ohio (NPIN, 2013). Towards the extent of its northern range Northern bayberry may incur some damage during extremely harsh years, but can be grown in USDA hardiness zones 3a-8b (MBG, 2017; Dirr, 1998; USDA-NRCS, 2012). For current distribution, please consult the Plant Profile page for this species on the PLANTS Web site. Natural Resources Conservation Service Plant Guide Northern bayberry (Morella pensylvanica). Photo by Scott Snell, USDA-NRCS, Plant Materials Program. Habitat: Bayberry can grow in wide range of environments and soils, but it grows most vigorously in sandy or peaty and slightly acidic well drained soils receiving full to partial sun (MBG, 2017). Bayberry is a highly salt spray tolerant and moderately saline and drought tolerant shrub. It spreads naturally via rhizomatous growth to sandy soils free of vegetation, it is well adapted to stable dune environments and is less frequently found scattered throughout the primary dunes of the Mid-Atlantic region (Gilman and Watson, 1994; Dickerson, 2002). Near the coast in the dune environment it is often associated with American beachgrass (Ammophila breviligulata), seaside goldenrod (Solidago sempervirens), eastern poison ivy (Toxicodendron radicans), roundleaf greenbriar (Smilax rotundifolia), Virginia creeper (Parthenocissus quinquefolia), beach plum (Prunus maritima), black cherry (Prunus serotina), eastern red cedar (Juniperus virginiana), rugosa rose (Rosa rugosa), and winged sumac (Rhus copallinum) (Martin, 1959). Although typically considered a dune plant, northern bayberry also occurs inland thriving in fallow or abandoned agricultural land, along the borders of woodlands, pine barrens, marshes, swamps, and ponds (Duncan and Duncan, 1987; Stalter, 1992). In habitats outside of the dune environment northern bayberry often occurs with saltgrass (Distichlis spicata), red maple (Acer rubrum), eastern baccharis (Baccharis halimifolia), switchgrass (Panicum virgatum), and little bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium) (Martin, 1959). Bayberry may also occur in areas completely lacking topsoil such as mined sites, edges of railroads, and roadway cuts (Fordham, 1983). Because it may occur as frequently in wetlands as in non-wetlands, northern bayberry has been assigned a wetland indicator status of facultative for all wetland regions in which it occurs (USACE, 2018). Adaptation: The genus Morella is the largest of the Myricaceae family composed of roughly 50 species distributed widely in North America, Europe, Africa, and Asia (Benson, 2018). Difficulties and some disagreement have arisen regarding the taxonomy of the Morella and Myrica genera within the Myricaceae family which has resulted in many species (including northern bayberry) being renamed to the Morella genus after having been formerly named as a member of the Myrica genus (Parra-O, 2002). Further complicating the matter, some taxonomists disagree as to whether northern bayberry and southern bayberry (Morella caroliniensis) should be classified as distinct, separate species. Wilbur (2002) claimed that the characteristics used to differentiate the two “seem to be more like tendencies than sharply delineated differences.” This plant guide will regard northern bayberry as a distinct and unique species. Northern bayberry has a high tolerance for salt spray and low water availability making it well adapted to the coastal dune environment. Greenhouse and field studies have shown that bayberry incurs little to no damage from salt spray (Griffiths et al., 2003). Northern bayberry is well adapted to nitrogen poor soils because of a symbiotic relationship between bayberry and the nitrogen fixing bacteria Frankia (Bloom et al., 1989). Fimbel and Kuser (1995) reported that bayberry is estimated to add 15 to 28 lbs per acre of available nitrogen per year to sand dunes of the Mid-Atlantic US. The majority of research on bayberry has focused on the coastal dune environment where the chance for fire is low, limiting information on the effect fire has on the species (Hauser, 2006). Environmental conditions and timing of the burn treatments likely affect the response of bayberry to fire. Dunwiddie (1998) reported a significant decrease in the frequency and coverage of bayberry following spring and summer burn treatments in sandplain grasslands and coastal heathlands of Massachusetts. October burn treatments resulted in increased or unchanged frequency and coverage suggesting that bayberry is more susceptible to fire damage while actively growing but tolerant if burned while dormant.

Uses

Conservation practices: The adaptations that give bayberry its drought tolerance and ability to endure salt spray and saline soils also make it an excellent species to be used for stabilization of coastal sand dunes of the Mid-Atlantic region (Dickerson, 2002). Bayberry is an important successional species that colonizes landward expansion of the dune system beyond the foredune encouraging the recruitment and growth of other woody and vining species to form dense shrub thickets which provide long term stabilization (Wooton et al., 2016; Tiffney and Barrera, 1979). Bayberry may also improve the overall health of the ecosystem by providing microclimates that are beneficial for other native dune plant species. Shumway (2000) reported that both seaside goldenrod and American beachgrass plants displayed increased health and vigor when growing in association with bayberry, including, increased flowering, numbers of flowers, seed produced, plant size, tissue nitrogen concentrations, photosynthetic efficiencies, and mid-day xylem water potentials. Shumway (2000) attributed the improved plant performance of the companion species to the microclimate created by the canopy and increased nitrogen levels beneath bayberry thickets. Shumway and Banks (2001) also reported that bayberry is a valuable constituent of the plant communities that populate the waterlogged soils of interdunal swales, growing best in the drier swales and at the perimeters of the more frequently flooded swales. Ornamental/landscaping: The showiness of the persistent winter fruit has made bayberry valuable as a landscape plant. Its value is increased by its versatility, survivability, and durability. Bayberry may be used in woodland gardens, privacy screens, garden shrub borders, along roadways, in parking lots or above ground planters (Gilman and Watson, 1994; MBG, 2017). There are several bayberry varieties resistant to disease and insects with improved growth form, foliage abundance, vigor, and survival. Its salt tolerance makes it an ideal choice for sites receiving regular salt applications such as roadsides and parking lots. Gilman and Watson (1994) warn that when used along roadsides plants should be set back from the roadway as unpruned branches tend to droop and may impede traffic. Wildlife: Winter persistent fruit and late season leaf retention make bayberry valuable food and shelter for wildlife. The fruit is typically above snow accumulations and available throughout the winter to bobwhite quail, ruffed grouse, turkey, ring-necked pheasant, woodpeckers and numerous songbirds (Dickerson, 2002; Chatfield, 2016). Yellow-rumped warblers (Setophaga coronate) and tree swallows (Tachycineta bicolor) feed regularly on the waxy fruits from autumn through winter and into the spring (Place and Stiles, 1992). The yellow-rumped warbler may subsist primarily on bayberry fruit at certain stopover sites during fall migration (Podlesak et al., 2005). One hundred percent of the 65 specimens of tree swallows dissected during a vegetation management study at John F. Kennedy International Airport contained bayberry fruit. The removal of bayberry shrubs around the airport resulted in a 75 percent decrease in swallow aircraft strikes (Bernhardt et al., 2009). Fecal seed traps reveal that bayberry fruit becomes an important food source for insectivorous birds along the Mid-Atlantic coast during migration, during winter months Morella spp. [bayberry and wax myrtle (M. cerifera)] accounted for 99 percent of all seeds collected (Shiftett and Young, 2010). In Massachusetts, bayberry contributes valuable habitat for the rare northern harrier (Circus hudsonius), two harrier pairs establish territory and roost at Barney's Joy Point in dense thickets of northern bayberry (Christiansen and Reinert, 1990). Bayberry also attracts squirrels and other small mammals and is an important food source for some larger mammals (Gilman and Watson, 1994). Bayberry and wax myrtle on Assateague Island, MD are an important food source for of sika (Cervus nippon) and white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) (Keiper, 1985). Bayberry also provides food and shelter for beneficial insects. A review of honey bee forage literature ranking the nectar and pollen source of wild flowering plant species, ranked bayberry as a minor source for both nectar and pollen (Loose et al., 2005). Loose (2000) also reported that the leafcutter bee (Megachile addenda) uses bayberry leaves as a nest building material. Bayberry is a known larval host plant for Columbia silkmoth (Hyalophora columbia) (NPIN, 2013).

Ethnobotany

Warning: The wax from bayberry fruit is considered toxic and may be carcinogenic. Early American settlers used the waxy coating of bayberry fruit to produce highly valuable scented candles that did not sputter or smoke. The candles were labor intensive with each 2 ounce candle requiring 5-10 thousand fruits. The blue green water produced after simmering the wax off the fruit was used to dye homespun cloth (Connor, 1993). The plant materials strong aroma made it attractive for use in the production of sealing wax and soaps (MBG, 2017). Many of the traditional items produced from bayberry fruit by early settlers remain popular today as decorative and useful household items (Bornstein, 1997). Bayberry bark was used as a paste or powder to improve oral hygiene and as an ingredient in mouthwashes to treat canker sores and soft gums (Lewis, 1977 and Orr, 2014). Morella spp. were used by various Native American tribes to induce vomiting, treat menstrual problems, purify blood and a kidney aid (Moerman, 1986). The Mi'kmaq used leaf snuff to treat headaches, tea from the leaves as a stimulant, and root bark as a poultice to reduce inflammation (Foster and Duke, 2000). Myricitrin, a strong antioxidant, is found in bayberry bark and is separated and purified using high speed counter current chromatography. Myricitrin is used in food, pharmaceutical, and cosmetic products (Orr, 2014 and Fu et al., 2013). Myricitrin has anti-inflammatory, antimutagenic, diuretic, and antibacterial properties (Foster and Duke, 2000).

Status

Threatened or Endangered: Bayberry is considered exploitable/vulnerable in New York and endangered in Ohio (USDA-NRCS, 2018). Wetland Indicator: FAC (USACE, 2018). An example of northern bayberry male catkins (left) and immature female fruit (right). Weedy or Invasive: Bayberry may spread aggressively via rhizomatous growth and display allelopathic effects (Collins and Quinn, 1982). This plant may become weedy or invasive in some regions or habitats and may displace desirable vegetation if not properly managed. Please consult with your local NRCS Field Office, Cooperative Extension Service office, state natural resource, or state agriculture department regarding its status and use. Please consult the PLANTS Web site (http://plants.usda.gov/) and your state’s Department of Natural Resources for this plant’s current status (e.g., threatened or endangered species, state noxious status, and wetland indicator values).

Planting Guidelines

One to two year old bare root or containerized plants are recommended for all purposes. Existing vegetation should be controlled prior to planting as bayberry does not compete well with established vegetation. Bayberry shrubs planted in weed free (plowed and harrowed) sites have significantly higher survival rate than shrubs planted in untreated sites (Cook and Edminster, 1944). Adding mulch to a newly installed planting provides additional moisture retention and weed control (Dickerson, 2002). Fertilizer is not recommended, as the additional nutrients may encourage weed growth and increase weed competition. The preferred soil pH is 6.0-6.5 (USDA-NRCS, 2012). Any soil amendments should be based on the results of soil nutrient analysis tests. Consult your local agricultural extension service for guidance. Plant spacing is variable and based on site conditions and planting purpose. General guidelines for dune plantings are to plant in groupings with plants two to three feet apart. Border and hedge row plantings are planted as one or two rows of plants with three to four feet between plants. A single row planted at the same spacing is sufficient for roadway plantings (Dickerson, 2002; MBG, 2017; USDA-NRCS, 2012). If fruit production is desirable for ornamental, wildlife benefits, or other purposes; male and female plants must be planted near one another to achieve successfully pollination. For a good fruit set, it is recommended that 20 percent of the shrubs planted should be male (Brand, 2015). Sex of seedlings cannot be determined until the plant reaches maturity (three to four years), where seed production is a high priority it is best to purchase commercially available sexed varieties.

Management

Plantings installed in natural areas, dune construction sites or revegetation sites require no follow up maintenance. Other applications may require maintenance depending on site conditions and the purpose of the planting. Bayberry may need regular maintenance if planted close to the road to prevent drooping branches can hang low impeding traffic flow. Gilman and Watson (1994) recommend setting the shrubs far enough back from the road to avoid the issue or regular pruning. They recommend heading the top of the shrubs twice a year to prevent lanky branches which tend to sag. Heavy pruning is generally discouraged as it may reduce plant vigor and result in die back (Dickerson, 2002; USDA-NRCS, 2012).

Pests and Potential Problems

No significant problems with pests or diseases of northern bayberry have been documented (Gilman and Watson, 1994).

Environmental Concerns

Concerns

Concerns

Encroachment by bayberry may reduce or displace native coastal grasslands dominated by little bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium). This shift is attributed to litter accumulation, shading, and the vigorous vegetative spread of northern bayberry (Collins and Quinn, 1982; Rogers, et al., 1985). Collins and Quinn (1982) suggest that bayberry may display allelopathic effects that contribute to the displacement of little bluestem.

Control

Please contact your local agricultural extension specialist or county weed specialist to learn what works best in your area and how to use it safely. Always read label and safety instructions for each control method. Trade names and control measures appear in this document only to provide specific information. USDA NRCS does not guarantee or warranty the products and control methods named, and other products may be equally effective. Prescribed burn treatments implemented while bayberry is actively growing reduce frequency and coverage. Mow treatments reduce frequency and coverage if performed while bayberry is actively growing, dormant mowing had little or no effect (Dunwiddie, 1998). Areas browsed by domestic sheep have also shown significantly reduced frequency and coverage compared to unbrowsed areas (Dunwiddie,1997).