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Common Name: Northern Bayberry

General Information

Myrica pensylvanica is a deciduous shrub that can grow up to 3.00 metres tall.
It is harvested from the wild for local use as a food, medicine and source of materials.

Known Hazards

There is a report that some of the constituents of the wax might be carcinogenic[].

Botanical References

, ,

Range

Eastern N. America. Possibly naturalized in Britain in the New Forest.

Habitat

Dry or wet sterile soil near the coast[]. Coastal dunes, pine barrens, pine-oak forests, old fields, bogs, edges of streams, ponds, and swamps from sea level to 325 metres[].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Habit	Deciduous Shrub
Height	3.00 m
Pollinators	Wind
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

Prefers a moist soil. Grows well in an open position in a well-drained soil in sun or light shade[]. Thrives in any ordinary garden soil[]. Prefers a lime-free loamy or peaty soil[]. Does well in dry maritime sites[].
Hardy to about -40°c[]. Closely related to M. cerifera and perhaps no more than a hardier northern form of it[], it has larger fruits than M. cerifera[]. Where their ranges overlap, Myrica pensylvanica hybridizes quite readily with both M . cerifera and M . Heterophylla[].
Tolerant of salt spread on roads[].
Plants in this genus are notably resistant to honey fungus[].
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[].

Edible Uses

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

Medicinal

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

Other Uses

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[, , ]. Candles made from this wax are quite brittle but are less greasy in warm weather[]. They are slightly aromatic, with a pleasant balsamic odour[], and do not smoke when put out, making them much more pleasant to use that wax or tallow candles[]. The wax is also used in making soaps[].
A green dye is obtained from the leaves[].
The plant is very wind hardy and can be grown as an informal hedge[].

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[]. 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[].
Cuttings of half-ripe wood, 5 - 8cm with a heel, mid summer in a frame. Pot up and overwinter in a cold frame. Fair to good percentage[].
Cuttings of mature wood in late autumn in a frame.
Layering in spring[].
Division of suckers in the dormant season. Plant them out direct into their permanent positions.