Beaked Hazelnut vs Northern Bayberry - TreeTime.ca

Beaked Hazelnut vs Northern Bayberry

Corylus cornuta

Myrica pensylvanica

COMING SOON

(new stock expected: fall of 2026)

NOT AVAILABLE THIS SEASON - MIGHT RETURN

Beaked Hazelnut
Northern Bayberry

Beaked Hazelnut is a multi-stemmed, deciduous shrub native to North America.

It features smooth, grey bark and edible nuts. Beaked Hazelnut prefers a rich sandy-clay loam but will grow on poorer sites, and can be used as an understory shrub.

Note: You want more than one hazelnut to improve yields.

Northern Bayberry makes an excellent hedge or feature shrub. It will retain its leaves in warmer climates but drops them in colder areas. They produce blue-grey berries that have a wax coating on them that can be used to make candles or soaps.

In colder hardiness zones the leaves turn an attractive orange to red colour in the fall, making it a striking addition to your landscape.

Northern Bayberry is native to Nova Scotia and tolerates both drought and wet conditions. It is also a nitrogen fixer that tolerates poor soil conditions.

Beaked Hazelnut Quick Facts

Northern Bayberry Quick Facts

Zone: 2a
Zone: 3a
Height: 5 m (15 ft)
Height: 2.4 m (8 ft)
Spread: 2.1 m (7 ft)
Spread: 2.4 m (8 ft)
Light: partial shade, full sun
Light: partial shade, full sun
Moisture: dry, normal
Moisture: normal
Growth rate: medium
Growth rate: slow
Life span: medium
Life span: long
Suckering: low
Suckering: medium


Toxicity: Warning: The wax from bayberry fruit is considered toxic and may be carcinogenic.
Berries: blue-gray
Nuts: small, wildlife attracting
Hybrid: no
Hybrid: no
Catkins: no
Catkins: yes


Native to: AB, BC, SK, MB, ON, QC, NS, NB, NL, PE
Native to: ON, QC, NS, NB, NL, PE
Other Names: beaked hazel
Other Names: candlewood, myrique de pennsylvanie, small waxberry, swamp candleberry, tallow bayberry, tallow shrub, tallow tree, tallowshrub