Northern bayberry
Myrica pensylvanica
Last reviewed: August 2026
Light
full sun
Water
low
Size
60"–120" H × 60"–96" W
Bloom
Apr, May
Native to
AL, CT, DE, MA and 11 more states
Before you buy
Your city may pay you to plant this
Cities and water utilities offer rebates for replacing lawn with native and water-wise plants. We track 431 programs across 44 states, each with a link to the provider and the date we last checked it.
Find rebates in your areaA dense, aromatic shrub with narrow, leathery leaves and, on female plants, clusters of small gray, waxy berries that persist into winter. It grows well in coastal dunes and sandy soils, tolerating salt spray.
Wildlife value
Its waxy berries are a critical winter food source for songbirds, especially yellow-rumped warblers, which can digest the high-wax fruit when little else is available.
Common questions
- How much sun does Northern bayberry need?
- Northern bayberry grows best in full sun conditions.
- When does Northern bayberry bloom?
- Northern bayberry blooms in April and May.
- Where is Northern bayberry native?
- Northern bayberry (Myrica pensylvanica) is native to AL, CT, DE, MA and 11 more states, per the World Checklist of Vascular Plants (Kew).
Native range data from the World Checklist of Vascular Plants (Kew). Pollinator and host plant associations compiled from GBIF, iNaturalist, and published ecological literature.
Ready to grow Northern bayberry? Add it to your garden in Pollinator Patch to track it and get season-by-season care guidance.
Not sure where to start? Take the 2-minute yard quiz