Description
Northern Bayberry Characteristics
Northern Bayberry are a common option for landscaping in the Pittsburgh climate and is especially hardy as this is its natural growing habitat. These shrubs are dioecious, meaning that individual plants are either male or female. Female plants must be pollinated by a nearby male in order to produce berries. When pollinated, the berries produce a fragrant waxy coating. This wax has been used to make Bayberry candles and soaps. The berries may persist through winter, or until birds pick them off of the plant.
There are few threatening disease or insect issues that plagues Northern Bayberry, It should be noted that these shrubs spread via basal shoots or root suckers that grow from the base of the plant. If the basal shoots are not removed, Northern Bayberry can spread, forming colonies.
