Northern Bayberry is a native semi-evergreen shrub of the northeastern coastal plain, growing 5–12 feet tall with aromatic, leathery leaves and clusters of waxy gray berries. The waxy coating of the berries, extracted by boiling, was historically used to make fragrant bayberry candles, a colonial American tradition. Its dense thickets stabilize coastal dunes and provide critical winter food for yellow-rumped warblers, which are among the few birds that can digest the waxy fruit.
Best time to see a Northern Bayberry
The best time to see a Northern Bayberry is May–September, when about 65% of U.S. sightings happen, based on 8,323 research-grade iNaturalist observations.
Not certain it is a Northern Bayberry? What plant is this? walks through what to check first and the lookalikes that catch people out.
Recent Northern Bayberry sightings near you
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