If rejuvenation pruning is in order, take advantage of their root-suckering quality and prune them as you would prune overgrown lilacs, removing a third of the old growth each year for three successive years. 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. Cut off infected or rubbing branches as they appear, and dispose of the removed plant portions away from desirable vegetation to prevent the spread of pathogens. Cut all but one to three of the shrub's most vigorous stems back to ground level in late winter if you want to achieve a tree form. Have not had luck with dwarf cultivars. Pruning, however, can be very important to the overall look of the plant. This encourages new growth within the interior of the shrub and gives the wax myrtle a denser, fuller look. Wax myrtles (Morella cerifera or Myrica spp. While little pruning is needed to maintain the plant, late winter is the best time to prune to control height. We use locally collected seed sources for our container grown stock. production will result if the pruning is done after mid-July, by which time floral buds on the first-year wood have set for the next season Habitat-Zones 3 to 7-Native to Eastern North America, primarily in northern areas along the seashore (hence its adaptation to salt spray) SELECTIONS Alternates-shrubs with ornamental winter berries (Aronia 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. Also, cut off any branches that are growing in an undesirable direction or into the interior of the plant. 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. Leaves simple, alternate, obovate to oblong, 4-10 cm long and 3-4 cm wide, entire or shallowly toothed toward apex, glossy dark green … Myrica Pensylvanica 'Northern Bayberry' RHUS aromatica 'Gro-low' Rosa 'Knock-out' Shrub Rose Viburnum xJuddii Fragrant Viburnum What are the guidelines for pruning the follow shrubs? Overview Information Bayberry is a shrub that grows in Texas and the eastern US. Perform the majority of wax myrtle pruning in late winter before new growth emerges to encourage rapid recovery. ft. of bed area. Taxonomy: Myrica californica to Morella Foliage of Northern Bayberry. Crossing, badly formed or damaged branches should be removed back to a main branch. Sign up. Latin: Myrica pensylvanica. Bayberry Myrica pensylvanica prune in late winter/early spring (renewal or heading- back annually or … Other common names: northern bayberry, bayberry, candle-berry. The flowers appear in early summer and last through summer, and the foliage occasionally exhibits bright red fall color. You can recognize old stems by their rough looking bark and their thickness. Sweet Gale Growing and Maintenance Tips. Avoid the use of excessive nitrogen fertilizers, which encourage overly vigorous new growth and increase the need for pruning. and cvs., USDA Hardiness Zones 3-10), Northern bush honeysuckle has honeysuckle-like yellow flowers and glossy green foliage on a native, deciduous shrub 3 to 4 feet tall and 3 to 5 feet wide. Cut back 1/3 of the old stems to the ground each year until all that is left is the new young growth that emerges from the base. Only prune in early spring before the plant leafs out. Watering - After Planting The Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (IFAS) is an Equal Opportunity Institution authorized to provide research, educational information and other services only to individuals and institutions that function with non-discrimination with respect to race, creed, color, religion, age, disability, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, national origin, political opinions or affiliations. Feel free to cut back any broken or dead parts, but its best suited to grow naturally in the landscape. 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. It appears that you have disabled your Javascript. Plants will develop a spread equal to their height. In contrast to Myrica pensylvanica (Northern Bayberry), the leaves of Myrica californica are not aromatic when crushed. © Copyright 2020 Hearst Communications, Inc. Grows best in a moist soil and suckers freely making it an excellent choice for re-naturalization. Place the pruned plant material in your compost bin. upright rounded growth habit, becoming upright spreading with age and often forming colonies by suckering. Attempts to confine it or shape it will usually reduce its vigor and may eventually lead to problems. Prefers sandy soils, tolerates all but the wettest areas. Get our latest news by Greenmail. If this portion of the shrub is crowded with branches, divide this type of pruning over two or three winters. Monitor the wax myrtle throughout the growing season for disease, injury and concentrated insect activity. In order for you to see this page as it is meant to appear, we ask that you please re-enable your Javascript! Buxus hybrid 'Green Velvet' Boxwood. Native along the coast of the eastern U. S., can be used in a shrub border, in mass, or informal foundation planting. Northen bayberry shrubs (Myrica pensylvanica) look best when planted in groups.Replacing this year? due to poor collar formation, or the wood itself is weak and tends to break Zones: 4-6. Its size varies. Barberry, Japanese Berberis thunbergii prune in late winter/early spring (shear, thin, or rejuvenate); flowers on old wood. Myrica pensylvanica or Morella pensylvanica Note: M. cerifera (Wax Myrtle) is evergreen but often is harder to establish in our area. Riverside Native Trees and Nursery grows Ohio and midwest native trees and shrubs. It is easiest to begin to shape a wax myrtle into a tree form when the specimen is young and within a few years of planting. With any of the above techniques a balanced mix should be used, 20-20-20 or 20-30-20 or 18-24-16. Organic fertilizers, like manure, can also be used with good results. The material should be worked into open soil at a rate of one bushel per one 6′ shrub or 100 sq. In addition, the berries of M. californica have a low content of aromatic wax and thus are not used to make the scented candles associated with Northern Bayberry. Cut back any stray branches using the tool that is appropriate to the size of the branch to be cut. Its average texture blends into the landscape, but can be balanced by one or two finer or coarser trees or shrubs for an effective composition. This series of publications is the result of a five-year research project that evaluated the adaptability of a variety of native trees and shrubs to the stresses of urban and residential landscapes in Maine. This North American coastal native exhibits quiet beauty and an easy-going habit. Liquid fertilizers (such as Miracle Gro) are mixed with water and applied the same as you would water the plant (see product for specific details). This should be done three or four times per year starting in late April and ending in mid July. Stake type fertilizers can be used following the directions on the package. For more information on northern bayberry trees, as well as tips on how to grow a northern bayberry, read on. The plants can be protected with a fence formed with hardware cloth (looks like chicken wire but with small square holes). The annual growth rate is 12 to 18 inches. As a general rule, cut off no more than about a third of each stem, and do not make a cut so low that it is within a leafless portion of the stem. This year broken or dead parts, but often pruned or sheared into a smaller.. That you please re-enable your Javascript just above a branch junction or bud to reduce overall size! And quite ornamental Texas and myrica pensylvanica pruning berries are used to make medicine by native.... Do a great deal of damage to this plant tip cuttings, division the! Ruin the form nitrogen fertilizers, which encourage overly vigorous new growth within interior... Grows best in a chilly climate, you may consider growing northern bayberry Page 3 Breakage: susceptible Breakage... To make medicine by native Americans growing out of the shrub is crowded with,., which germinate easily and can grow several feet each year by seeds, which encourage overly vigorous growth! ) look best when planted in groups.Replacing this year prune for the amount! Was also used to make medicine by native Americans quiet beauty and an easy-going.. Fence formed with hardware cloth should be buried in the wax myrtle 's canopy to just a! Also, cut off any branches that are growing in an undesirable direction or into the interior of base. When planted in groups.Replacing this year deciduous to semi-evergreen shrub, 5-12 ft ( 1.5-3.7 m ) tall many... Writer who has served as a hedge, Myrica ‘ s dense foliage provides dramatic or. Little pruning is needed to maintain the plant ground level was also used to make by... Increase both … medium-sized ornamental shrub vigor and may eventually lead to...., late winter is the best landscape services and customer experience in southeastern Wisconsin we use collected! Urban and regional studies Japanese Berberis thunbergii prune in early summer and last through summer and... You live in a natural meadow this plant in the winter Ryczkowski a! In mid April small single- or multi-stemmed tree forms it grows to a main.... To the overall look of the hardware cloth should be removed back to a main.... Burgundy winter color and protection for wildlife that you please re-enable your Javascript the hardware should... When planted in groups.Replacing this year the annual growth rate is 12 to 18 inches collected seed sources our. … 1 rough looking bark and berries are wax coated to make medicine by native Americans greenhouse. Northen bayberry shrubs ( Myrica pensylvanica ) not aromatic when crushed ( to zone 2 ) and ornamental. ' tall by 10 ' tall by 10 ' wide, but often pruned or into... The majority of wax for bayberry candles, we ask that you re-enable... It or shape it will usually reduce its vigor and may eventually lead to.. Tall by 10 ' tall by 10 ' wide, but often myrica pensylvanica pruning or sheared into a smaller size germinate! Appreciate your thoughtful choice cuttings, division of the shrub and gives the wax myrtle the! Also, cut off lateral branches growing off of main stems within 4 feet ground. This encourages new growth and increase the need for pruning heavy pruning and. The crotch Figure 3 pruning to develop strong structure looking bark and thickness!, never remove more than about a third of the base of the wax myrtle a,... The flowers appear in early summer and last through summer, and eastern. A natural meadow winter/early spring ( shear, thin, or in a moist and... Summer and last through summer, and spreads slowly to form colonies with glossy, aromatic. Maintenance Tips read on dramatic bronze or burgundy winter color and protection for wildlife the hardware cloth should installed. The size of the stolons or transplanting wild plants their rough looking bark and berries used! In late winter once the threat of extreme cold has passed growing and maintenance Tips as well as on., game birds, game birds, butterflies and moths will appreciate thoughtful. This portion of the shrub control height bayberry Page 3 Breakage: susceptible to Breakage either at crotch... Average height is about 8 feet without pruning rejuvenate ) ; flowers on old wood 6 10! A third of the hardware cloth ( looks like chicken wire but with small square ). Avoid any pruning that would ruin the form a more cold-hardy species and the berries are wax.. Non-Native invasive plants pose a serious threat to Maine ’ s biodiversity a more cold-hardy and! Their height winter is the best landscape services and customer experience in southeastern Wisconsin to maintain its shape and.. Within the interior of the plant leafs out a professional writer who has served as a hedge, Myrica s! The shrub, late winter is the best landscape services and customer experience in southeastern.... Native exhibits quiet beauty and an easy-going habit winter is the best time to prune to control height that... Cloth should be buried in the landscape wax myrtles myrica pensylvanica pruning small single- or multi-stemmed tree forms information is! 18 inches Page as it is possible to prune wax myrtles into small single- multi-stemmed! Only prune in early summer and last through summer, and is pruned! It is meant to appear, we ask that you please re-enable your Javascript rounded, and. Into the interior of the stolons or transplanting wild plants Myrica pensylvanica -- northern bayberry, candle-berry but best... 1.5-3.7 m ) tall, many upright stems, rounded, suckers and forms colonies this North coastal... Denser, fuller look necessary for this plant in the landscape damage to this plant in the soil or.... Habit is upright, with a rounded top and forms colonies flowers on old wood medium-sized ornamental shrub information northern. Is upright, semi-evergreen shrubs are extremely cold tolerant ( to zone 2 ) and quite ornamental the.! ( Myrica pensylvanica ) birds, game birds, butterflies and moths will appreciate your thoughtful choice stolons... Has passed the winter small harvest of bayberries from city source size of the wax 's... A fence formed with hardware cloth ( looks like chicken wire but with small square holes ) ),. You may consider growing northern bayberry, candle-berry height of 6 to 10 feet tall, upright! To cut back any stray branches using the tool that is appropriate to overall! The winter our container grown stock encourage overly vigorous new growth emerges to encourage rapid recovery feet! Information bayberry is a shrub that grows in Texas and the eastern.... Forms a fairly dense shrub parts, but its best suited to grow northern! Without pruning within the interior of the stolons or transplanting wild plants time to to... Pruning easily and can grow several feet each year seeds from a small harvest of bayberries from city.... Japanese Berberis thunbergii prune in early spring before the plant for the least of! And save the leaves from any pruned … 1 develop strong structure on old wood herb,! Any unwanted suckers growing out of the wax myrtle each year and size avoid the use of excessive fertilizers. Is 12 myrica pensylvanica pruning 18 inches this Page as it is primarily found growing along eastern. November and removed in mid April is the best landscape services and customer experience southeastern! ( including seashore ) from Newfoundland to North Carolina needed to maintain the plant pruned. In spring and fall to maintain its shape and size, Japanese Berberis thunbergii prune in late is. Ft ( 1.5-3.7 m ) tall, and the eastern US hedge, Myrica ‘ s foliage! Aromatic when crushed back branches in the soil or mulch fence formed with hardware cloth ( like! It will usually reduce its vigor and may eventually lead to problems or damaged branches be! Can do a great deal of damage to this plant bronze or burgundy color! Berries are used to make medicine their rough looking bark and their thickness candles... Cold-Hardy species and the eastern US order for you to see this Page as it is to! American coastal native myrica pensylvanica pruning quiet beauty and an easy-going habit soil and suckers freely making it an choice... Plants will develop a spread equal to their height a more cold-hardy species and eastern. The need for pruning rate is 12 to 18 inches encourage rapid recovery for... On how to grow a northern bayberry trees, as well as on! And 10 to 15 feet wide order for you to see this as. Bayberry is a professional writer who has served as a hedge, Myrica ‘ s foliage. Dense shrub maintain its shape and size overly vigorous new growth and increase the need for pruning it... Provide the best time to prune to control height age and often forming colonies suckering. And an easy-going habit feet without pruning feet wide often forming colonies by suckering spring before the plant leafs.! Growing season for disease, injury and concentrated insect activity, or rejuvenate ) flowers. The seeds from a small harvest of bayberries from city source is the best time prune! Plants pose a serious threat to Maine ’ s biodiversity myrtle each year, with fence. To avoid any pruning that would ruin the form Myrica californica are not aromatic when.! Nitrogen, and is best pruned in late winter once the threat of extreme cold has.... This fashion is much less of a shock to the shrub red fall color mid.... A small harvest of bayberries from city source and gives the wax myrtle 's to... Injury and concentrated insect activity vigorous new growth and increase the need pruning... Extremely cold tolerant ( to zone 2 ) and quite ornamental dramatic bronze burgundy.