Northern Bayberry, Candleberry               mi-RI-ka pen-sil-VAH-ni-ka

• Broadleaf deciduous to semi-evergreen shrub, 5-12 ft (1.5-3.7 m) tall, many upright stems, rounded, suckers and forms colonies.  Leaves simple, alternate, obovate to oblong, 4-10 cm long and 3-4 cm wide, entire or shallowly toothed toward apex, glossy dark green and pubescent above, aromatic when crushed.  Flowers monoecious or dioecious, not showy, both male and female flowers in yellowish-green catkins.  Fruit are grayish white and covered with a waxy coating, evident in fall into spring.
• Sun, or partial shade.  Withstands salt spray.
• Hardy to USDA Zone 3      Native range from Newfoundland to western New York, Maryland, and North Carolina.  Mostly along the seashore.
• Myrica: Greek name for Tamarix.    pensylvanica: of Pennsylvania.
• Oregon State Univ. campus: east side of parking lot east of the Radiation Center, that is on the west end of the sports field.