Myrica pensylvanica

Myrica pensylvanica, also known as Pennsylvania Bayberry or Pennsylvania Wax Myrtle, is a deciduous or semi-evergreen aromatic bush that produces a waxy and fragrant fruiting in autumn on female plants, which can persist throughout the winter.

Myrica pensylvanica belongs to the Myricaceae family and is native to Southeast Canada, and the East and Southeast of the United States (Newfoundland, Ontario, Ohio, North Carolina). It will occupy a space of 3 m (9.8 ft) in all directions.

Pennsylvania Bayberry has a dense bushy habit. The berries, with a diameter of 4 mm (0.2 in), are covered with a thick, waxy, white-blue film and appear on female plants in autumn and persist until the heart of winter. It has toothed, wide, ovate and glossy leaves, measuring 2.5 cm to 7 cm (1 in to 2.8 in) in length and 1.5 cm to 2.7 cm (0.6 - 1.1 in) in width. The leaves are grey-green and emit a strong aromatic resin when crushed. The male and female catkins appear in April-May. The male inflorescences are more visible and their colour ranges from yellow-green to red.

Plant Myrica Pensylvanica in neutral to acidic, light, well-drained soil, in full sun or partial shade. This bush is particularly adapted to moist, peaty, or sandy, acidic soils, but it tolerates a wide range of poor soils, even salty ones, enriching them with nitrogen. It is not afraid of drought. As the plant is dioecious, it will be necessary to plant a male plant among the female plants to obtain fruit formation. Pennsylvania Bayberry tolerates strong winds and sea spray. If necessary, prune dead wood or tangled branches before the start of new growth from February to April.

Myrica pensylvanica is a versatile bush. It can be planted at the edge of a woodland, or in a border to fill a wild corner of the garden. Note that when planted in the most favourable conditions, it tends to produce suckers and can form large colonies. You can install it in a free hedge to create a screen, combined with Sea Buckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides), Alders (Alnus glutinosa), and Dryads (Dryas integrifolia and D. drummondii). Use it to stabilise a slope and fight erosion with Creeping Honeysuckle (Lonicera nitida), Snowberry (Symphoricarpus racemosa), or in drier terrain with Buddleias or Siberian Peashrub (Caragana arborescens).

Myrica pensylvanica enriches the soil with nitrogen through specialised bacteria located in its root nodules. This symbiotic phenomenon is common in legumes, but also occurs in Sea Buckthorn, or casuarinas, for example. The foliage of Pennsylvania Bayberry is rich in essential oil. The plant is used in perfumery, and the branches are used by campers to repel biting insects. The waxy coating on the berries is used to make scented soaps and candles.