Semi-evergreen shrub · Tough and adaptable · Winter bird food
Growing conditions
Sun: Full sun to part shade
Soil: Moist soil but adapts to dry, wet, poor, and compacted sites; highly salt-tolerant
Plant details
Size: ~ 4–10 ft tall × 5–10 ft wide
Blooms: spring
Fruit: late summer
Deer resistance: High
Why we love it
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Exceptionally tough once established, roadside salt, drought, wind, poor soil, and occasional wet conditions
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Foliage and dense branching provide texture and structure for hedges and privacy screens
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Fixes nitrogen through a partnership with soil bacteria, gradually improving nutrient-poor soil
Why wildlife loves it
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Waxy berries persist from late summer into winter and provide food for songbirds and small mammals when other resources are scarce
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Dense branching provides shelter and nesting cover for birds
A note about berries
Northern Bayberry has separate male and female plants. Only female plants produce berries, and a male must be growing nearby for pollination. One male can pollinate multiple females. If a young plant’s sex is unknown, berry production cannot be guaranteed until it matures and flowers.
Fun to see
Gently rub a leaf between your fingers to release Northern Bayberry’s sweet, spicy fragrance.
What to expect at pickup
Plants are sold as young, well-rooted plugs. Some may be just emerging or still waking up from dormancy at pickup—they’ll grow and fill in as the season unfolds.
Before you order
All orders are for pickup at the Montclair Farmers Market.
• Choose your pickup Saturday at checkout
• Orders must be picked up on that date
• Plants are living and may vary in appearance
• All sales are final once plants are picked up
• Please check your plants at pickup — we can only address issues at that time
