Five to consider.Last winter was hard on us all…especially on the trees and shrubs that took the brunt of winter winds, sub-zero temperatures, and heavy snow. Bayberry is an upright-rounded, dense shrub with semi-evergreen dark green, leathery-like leaves and small waxy, persistent blue-gray fruit, which add winter interest and attract many species of birds. Planted as a hedge, Myrica‘s dense foliage provides dramatic bronze or burgundy winter color and protection for wildlife. Unless performing a rejuvenation pruning, never remove more than about a third of the wax myrtle each year. Only prune in early spring before the plant leafs out. This shrub will require occasional maintenance and upkeep, and is best pruned in late winter once the threat of extreme cold has passed. Perform the majority of wax myrtle pruning in late winter before new growth emerges to encourage rapid recovery. Myrica Pensylvanica 'Northern Bayberry' RHUS aromatica 'Gro-low' Rosa 'Knock-out' Shrub Rose Viburnum xJuddii Fragrant Viburnum Avoid the use of excessive nitrogen fertilizers, which encourage overly vigorous new growth and increase the need for pruning. Mature Height/spread: 3-8 ft. Its growth habit is upright, with a rounded top and forms a fairly dense shrub. Oops! Sweet Gale Growing and Maintenance Tips. Cut back any unwanted suckers growing out of the base of the shrub. Cut off lateral branches growing off of main stems within 4 feet of ground level. By fertilizing young shrubs you can increase both the size and the amount of flowers on the plant. Granular, liquid or stake type fertilizers can be used. Granular types should be worked into the soil around the plant at a rate of 2 pounds or 2 pints per 100 square feet of planting bed. An alternative way is to drill or punch 6″ deep holes at the drip line of the plant. Poured into these holes should be a total of 1/4 pound of fertilizer per foot of height or spread of the shrub (divided up and poured evenly between all of the holes). These holes should not be filled with more than 1/3 of the fertilizer and then they should be top filled with soil. This method of fertilization should only be done once a year, and is best done in late fall after leaf drop, or in early spring before bud break. To consistently provide the best landscape services and customer experience in southeastern Wisconsin. Myrica pensylvanica-- Northern Bayberry Page 3 Breakage: susceptible to breakage either at the crotch Figure 3. medium-sized ornamental shrub. These upright, semi-evergreen shrubs are extremely cold tolerant (to zone 2) and quite ornamental. Myrica pensylvanica, Northern Bayberry, is a more cold-hardy species and the source of wax for bayberry candles. Use hand pruners to make a diagonal cut about 1/4 inch above a node for small branches and loppers for stems wider than about an inch. Overview Information Bayberry is a shrub that grows in Texas and the eastern US. Pruning requirement: requires pruning to develop strong structure. Have not had luck with dwarf cultivars. Attempts to confine it or shape it will usually reduce its vigor and may eventually lead to problems. It is possible to prune wax myrtles into small single- or multi-stemmed tree forms. Broadleaf deciduous to semi-evergreen shrub, 5-12 ft (1.5-3.7 m) tall, many upright stems, rounded, suckers and forms colonies. Wax myrtles, cultivated across U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 6 through 11, are fairly low-maintenance plants, but may require routine pruning to maintain or achieve a desirable shape. Wax myrtles (Morella cerifera or Myrica spp. Myrica Species: cerifera Family: Myricaceae Uses (Ethnobotany): The fruits of this species have been used for many years to make bayberry candles, soaps, and sealing wax. Cut back branches in the wax myrtle's canopy to just above a branch junction or bud to reduce overall shrub size. Prune or cut back stems or branches selectively in the interior of the canopy, making cuts within 1/4 inch of a lateral branch or bud or a main stem. Considered invasive, planting is discouraged. This plant was also used to make medicine by Native Americans. If you live in a chilly climate, you may consider growing northern bayberry (Myrica pensylvanica). © Copyright 2020 Hearst Communications, Inc. Cut back any stray branches using the tool that is appropriate to the size of the branch to be cut. Latin: Myrica pensylvanica. Myrica pensylvanica or Morella pensylvanica Note: M. cerifera (Wax Myrtle) is evergreen but often is harder to establish in our area. A pleasantly aromatic large shrub. Grows best in a moist soil and suckers freely making it an excellent choice for re-naturalization. Northern Bayberry (Morella pensylvanica; formerly Myrica pensylvanica): This deciduous to semi-evergreen shrub is more cold hardy than common waxmyrtle. It grows to 10 feet tall, and spreads slowly to form colonies with glossy, semi-evergreen aromatic leaves. Landscape and Gardening Tips – December, Landscape and Gardening Tips – November. , however, can be very important to the shrub plant was also used to medicine... Urban and regional studies holes ) a small harvest of bayberries from city.. Myrtle 's canopy to just above a branch junction or bud to reduce overall shrub size of level! 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