What is a Bayberry?
Bayberry, also known as wax myrtle or candleberry, is a shrub or small tree that can grow up to 40 feet (12 meters) high. The plant is native to sandy swamps, bogs, and wet woodland areas in Europe, Africa, Asia, North America, and South America. It is deciduous to evergreen, with some species losing their leaves in the winter, and other species staying green year-round. However, the majority of bayberry species are evergreen. The leaves of a bayberry shrub are from 1-4 inches (3-10 centimeters) in length, with few teeth, and a narrow, wedged shape. They are broader at the tip, and put off a pleasant fragrance when bruised or crushed. Leaves are a lustrous dark green color, and are retained until late fall before dropping. The flowers on a bayberry plant are small, white to green in color, and appear in early to mid spring before the new leaves have grown. Male and female flowers are borne on different plants. The male flowers typically appear in cylindrical clusters, and the female fl
