Southern Bayberry

Myrica caroliniensis

Southern Bayberry

Photo by David J. Stang

Taxonomy

Division:
Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
Family:
Myricaceae
Genus:
Myrica
Species:
Myrica caroliniensis

Growth Characteristics

Life Cycle:
Perennial
Growth Habit:
Shrub , Tree
Height:
12-20 ft
Light Requirements:
Full Sun
Drought Tolerance:
High
Bloom Months:
apr, may, jun
Bloom Colors:
Yellow, Green
Evergreen Shrub:
Yes
Landscaping Shrub:
Yes

Native Range

United States: Alabama, Arkansas, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Maryland, Mississippi, North Carolina, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Texas, Virginia

Host Plant for Caterpillars

Agonopterix walsinghamella, Cameraria picturatella, Cecropia moth (Hyalophora cecropia), Io moth (Automeris io)

Soil Requirements

Soil Type:
moist, sandy, nutrient-poor soil
pH:
4.5 - 6.5 (acidic to slightly acidic)
Drainage:
tolerates poor drainage
Moisture:
consistently moist
Notes:
Commonly found in wetland areas.

Germination Information

Pre-treatment: Cold-moist stratification for 30 days at 1–5°C (34–41°F).

Source: OpenAI GPT-4o