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Bayberry(Myrica)

16 years ago

Could use some advice on my new Bayberry bushes put in this spring.Selected them for a very dry poor area away from my house that is difficult to water.Seem to be taking well and want fertilize them ,would the feeding stakes be suitable if so the fruit and nut or the evergreen.Any suggestion would be appreciated.

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Comments (5)

spunky_MA_z6
16 years ago
Thats so cool! Although I normally dont like poppy's, no one ever takes the time to really do anything. You must be one weird mama!
terrene
16 years ago
Poppies? Did I miss something? What does Northern Bayberry (Myrica pennsylvanica) have to do with poppies??

I just purchased 10 Northern bayberry seedlings this spring. I have been watering them regularly and as for fertilizer, all that I use on the majority of my plants is compost.

I have read that it's best not to fertilize new plantings because they need the first year or so to establish a good root system. Regular watering and a mulch is adequate.

The only thing I've noticed is that my Bayberry plants seem to be very slow to leaf out.
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Q
Comments (19)
Angel, There are two types of blueberries that grow in the south, Southern Highbush and Rabbiteye. There are different varieties of each and if you are growing one type you would need 2 or 3 varieties in each type for cross pollination. (2 or 3 varieties of Southern Highbush or Rabbiteye Blueberry). They need well drained acidic soil (5.5 to 4.5). Rabbiteye tends to be easier to grow than Southern Highbush. If you have sandy or sandy loam soil that is acidic, you can grow them in the ground. If not you have to grow them in containers and use a complete fertilizer for acidic plants. If you water has a high pH you may also have to adjust the water to be acidic by adding some type of acid. We have blueberry farms here in our sandier soil. Many of the varieties were developed in Florida and it will depend on your soil if you can grow them in ground. If the soil has limestone in it you probably will not be able to grow in ground. I grow them in container due to lack of drainage. They do not like wet saturated soils. I think cranberries are a northern plant. Probably cannot take the hot sun.
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Bayberry (Wax Myrtle) Shrub
Q
Comments (1)
Hi Lisa. I'm on the Eastern Shore of Maryland, and although it is hot and humid here in the summer I think it's a little less torrid than it is down there. Last fall I planted two southern bayberry (Myrica caroliniensis) because they're native here and I knew they'd stand up to the humid heat. Mine are still young but are growing gangbusters. Those that I see growing wild by the side of the road can get to be a good 10'-12' tall and perhaps half to 2/3 as wide. I can't really comment on foliage drop due to lack of experience, although mine have experienced nearly none. We had a mild winter (only a week or so of 10 degrees; rest of the time in the 30s), over all, and mine came through with flying colors, hanging onto their leaves when other evergreens (like my inkberries and baby loblolly pines) suffered from wind burn. I don't plan to prune mine for height, as I want a privacy screen and a wind/dust break (next door neighbor likes to disk his property, creating clouds of dust). I know that they do well on our sandy soils (you mentioned that they grow well near your island home); do you have the infamous Georgia clay at your 1st home? If your drainage is good I imagine that they'll thrive. I think that they're terrific additions to our hedgerow!
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How big before berries?
Q
Comments (6)
Your pictures make it look like it died back and then came up from the roots. Such an experience could delay flowering, plus the shrub did not look very big to begin with. If a seedling (rather than a cutting) it might be some years before it gets old enough to bloom much.
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wax myrtle..etc. plant,seed
Q
Comments (1)
You should come to Florida instead. Myrica cerifera is very common throughout the state, and all the New Yorkers are down here right now anyway.
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gamekeeper
Original Author
16 years ago
Terrene,did you get any other unusual wildlife plants? I got my Myrica in N.J. at Rarefind Nursery so they were started leafing and have continued.Is there a place in Ma.that has this type plants?
terrene
16 years ago
Gamekeeper, I purchased 80 native seedlings this Spring from your neck of the woods, through the New Hampshire Division of Forests and Lands (see the link below).

Not sure if they are unusual, but besides the Myrica pennsylvania I got:

Gray Dogwood (Cornus racemosa)
Alternate Leaf Dogwood (Cornus alternifolia)
Northern Arrowwood (Viburnum recognitum)
Nanny berry (Viburnum lentago)
American Mountain Ash (Sorbus americana)
Virginia Rose (Rosa virginiana)

The seedlings were generally about 12-18" tall, with very healthy root systems. Most of them are planted in temporary nursery beds. I haven't had any losses! But I am a bit worried about rabbits or deer browsing on them.

All of these species make berries for the birds.

Unfortunately, they only sell and ship the seedlings in the Spring and they are done for the season. But I'm already thinking about what I want for next year.

Here is a link that might be useful: http://www.dred.state.nh.us/nhnursery/
glutamine1_gmail_com
15 years ago
Bayberry herb information. helps Digestive aid, gas fighter, sore throat, upper respiratory and sinus complaints.

Here is a link that might be useful: Bayberry Herb

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