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Myrica pensylvanica
Silver-blue, mature, waxy berries of a bayberry shrub! The berries grow directly on the stems during autumn and persist into the following growing season. The shrub often spreads by suckers to form colonies. These berries are prized in the northeastern US, but I hardly ever find them - especially the mature berries. So, this was an exciting find!
Growing on the edge of a large meadow with sandy soil. The meadow had sandy soil, and bordered a mixed forest with lots of hemlock and sycamore.
The foliage and berries release the bayberry scent when rubbed or crushed. Wax from the berries is used to make bayberry candles, which are very clean burning. The process is a bit tedious, but worth the effort.
My great grandmother used to make bayberry sachets. She would run her iron over the sachets before ironing clothes. The wax would help the iron glide over the fabric smoothly, and the scent of the bayberries would remain in the clothing.
I spotted this plant while out on a homeschool science exploration with my kids. We were looking for late winter signs of wildlife.
Spotted on Feb 27, 2018
Submitted on Mar 6, 2018
12 Comments
Thank you Leuba :)
What a lovely story. Another great spotting Christine. I can almost smell the warm waxy berries...
Thanks for all the comments! @shebebusynow, I think the reason I don't find them often is probably because I don't go to the coast that often. I live in NW Connecticut, and avoid our coast because it's so polluted, but may need to make a trip to find some more bayberry shrubs. As Machi pointed out, these plants seem to prefer coastal areas. I was thrilled to find them in a meadow - the soil was very sandy, and near a river, so perhaps that's why they were growing there. I didn't harvest any of these berries even though I desperately wanted to since I don't often find them and didn't want to deplete what was there. Better to leave them for any desperate birds looking for food in late winter. But, if I ever find a motherload, I will definitely harvest some. It's not practical to make candles for regular use - bayberry is more for a special occasion because the process of extracting the wax is long and tedious. @Neil Ross, many birds eat the berries, but they are not considered edible for humans. The wax is also toxic. Although, Native Americans used the leaves and roots/bark as medicinal tea and snuff.
Your welcome, Christine....
Lovely spotting and images. Are the berries edible? Excellent information too.
I find them in Southern Maine not too far from the ocean pretty often. I looked at the range map and it seems like they enjoy coastal areas: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Myrica_pen...
I love the scent of bayberries but have been unable to find it for sale in any form in recent years. Every other silly scent, but not that. Are they not prospering in the northeast? Are they not bearing berries as much as they used to? or is it some market thing... I'm intrigued that you don't usually find them.
First time I am hearing about such an interesting plant...thanks.
Nice finding!
Thanks for your kind words maplemoth!
Photo No. 1: is a beautiful photo....
Five, very interesting, and very educational photos....