Is Bayberry deer resistant?
Myrica pensylvanica
Plant typeShrubHardinessZones 3–7LightFull sun
Mature height72–96 in
BloomSpringMaintenanceLow, mostly leave it alone
Native range15 US states
About Bayberry
Aromatic native shrub that shrugs off salt spray and poor sand. The waxy grey berries are what bayberry candles were originally made from.
Soil and care
- Soil pH
- 5 to 6.5
- Drainage
- Sharp, gritty. Will rot in wet soil
- Water
- Low
- Spacing
- 59 to 94 in apart
- Growth rate
- Moderate
- Maintenance
- Low
Similar to Bayberry
Other shrubs with the same deer rating.
- Arrowwood ViburnumViburnum dentatumZones 2–8Rarely damaged
- BarberryBerberis sp.Zones 4–8, genus rangeRarely damaged
- Blue Mist ShrubCaryopteris clandonensisZones 6–9Rarely damaged
- BoxwoodBuxus sempervirensZones 5–8Rarely damaged
- BroomCytisus sp.Zones 5–8, genus rangeRarely damaged
- Bush CinquefoilPotentilla fruticosaZones 2–7Rarely damaged
Where Bayberry grows
Hardy across most of these 48 states on zone range alone. Mountain and coastal areas sit outside the ranges used here, so check your own zone before ordering.
- Pennsylvanianative
- New Jerseynative
- New Yorknative
- Connecticutnative
- Massachusettsnative
- Virginianative
- Marylandnative
- Michigan
- Wisconsin
- Ohionative
- Indiana
- Illinois
- Minnesota
- Missouri
- North Carolinanative
- Tennessee
- Georgia
- Texas
- Colorado
- California
- Oregon
- Washington
- New Hampshirenative
- Vermontnative
- Mainenative
- Rhode Islandnative
- Delawarenative
- West Virginia
- Kentucky
- South Carolina
- Alabama
- Mississippi
- Arkansas
- Oklahoma
- Kansas
- Nebraska
- Iowa
- North Dakota
- South Dakota
- Montana
- Wyoming
- Idaho
- Utah
- Nevada
- Arizona
- New Mexico
- Alaska
- District of Columbianative
Highlighted states are within its native range according to the USDA PLANTS database, where it is native to 15 US states in total.
Browse from here
Every list Bayberry belongs to.
Hardy in these zones
Common questions about Bayberry
- Is Bayberry deer resistant?
- Bayberry (Myrica pensylvanica) is rated Rarely Damaged on the Rutgers NJAES four-tier scale. Deer almost always leave this alone.
- What hardiness zones does Bayberry grow in?
- Bayberry is hardy in USDA zones 3 to 7. Outside that range it will either not survive winter or will struggle with summer heat.
- Does Bayberry grow in shade?
- No. Bayberry wants full sun and will grow thin and flop in shade.
- How big does Bayberry get?
- Mature height is roughly 72–96 in. Growth rate is moderate.