Description
Morella caroliniensis (syn. Myrica pensylvanica)
CT DR RG P EcoR
Soil: Well-drained
Light: Full to Part Sun
Moisture: Average to Dry
Plant Height: 5 to 10 feet
Plant Width: 5 to 10 feet
Pests: None
Landscape Value: Good for mass plantings, in borders and hedges, in rain gardens, along roadsides, and in seaside landscapes.
Hardy, vigorous semi-evergreen shrub. Glossy, deep green foliage turns burgundy to bronze or tan in fall and winter. Leaves are highly aromatic when crushed. Plants are either male or female, with females producing gray-green waxy berries that are the source of an essential oil used in candles and soaps. Fixes nitrogen in soil. Tolerates drought, salt spray, and dry, sandy soil. Provides excellent cover and a fall/winter food source for songbirds. Great for tough places as it is adaptable to severe conditions and will colonize rocky, barren areas with underground stems.
1 gallon pot, 2-3 feet tall
Photo credits:
Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center (photo by Albert F.W. Vick)
Missouri Botanical Garden
New Jersey Yards
