Morella caroliniensis (Mill.) Small

Evergreen Bayberry; Pocosin Bayberry

Shrub

Perennial

Vascular

Evergreen Bayberry is a native shrub in the Bayberry family (Myricaceae). It can be found throughout most of Alabama. Evergreen Bayberry occurs along streams, in bogs, in pine flat woods, and in seeps. It is a large shrub reaching 9 feet in height. Twigs are dark grey to almost black in color and may be pubescent and glandular. The leaves are slightly aromatic, leathery, alternately arranged, and elliptic to obovate in outline. Leaves are evergreen and have toothed margins above the middle. Leaves are usually pubescent and glandular, at least along the major veins on the lower surface. The glands are yellow or amber colored. Staminate and pistillate flowers are produced on different plants (dioecious). Male flowers are produced in short, erect catkins in the early spring. The flowers are produced from leaf axils on wood of the previous season’s growth. Female flowers are produced on short side branches. The fruit is a wax coated drupe. Evergreen Bayberry has nitrogen-fixing filamentous bacteria in the genus Frankia associated with nodules along its roots. Evergreen Bayberry is similar to Common Wax Myrtle (Morella cerifera (Linnaeus) Small). The leaves of Evergreen Bayberry are larger and broader than those of Common Wax Myrtle. The fruit of Evergreen Bayberry are also larger than those of Common Wax Myrtle. Evergreen Bayberry is often available from native plant nurseries. It is a good evergreen shrub for areas with moist, sandy, acidic soil. It does well in full sun or partial shade. The fruit are consumed by a variety of birds during the winter.--A. Diamond

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Native G5 (Global Rank)

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