Golden Currant vs Northern Bayberry - TreeTime.ca

Golden Currant vs Northern Bayberry

Myrica pensylvanica

Ribes aureum

NOT AVAILABLE THIS SEASON

NOT AVAILABLE THIS SEASON

Northern Bayberry
Golden Currant

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.

Golden Currant produces berries for jams, jellies, sauces and even pemmican. This currant bush is very dense, allowing for use as a hedge, windbreak, or wildlife habitat.

This plant is also a very popular rootstock to graft popular red and white currant varieties to. The resulting plants are taller, more productive, and easier to harvest.

Northern Bayberry Quick Facts

Golden Currant Quick Facts

Zone: 3a
Zone: 4a
Height: 2.4 m (8 ft)
Height: 1.5 m (5 ft)
Spread: 2.4 m (8 ft)
Spread: 1.2 m (4 ft)
Moisture: normal
Moisture: normal
Light: partial shade, full sun
Light: partial shade, full sun
Hybrid: no
Hybrid: no
Catkins: yes
Catkins: no
Fall colour: reddish purple
Berries: blue-gray
Berries: glossy black berries
Flowers: yellow
Growth rate: slow
Growth rate: medium
Life span: long
Life span: short
Suckering: medium
Suckering: medium



Toxicity: Warning: The wax from bayberry fruit is considered toxic and may be carcinogenic.

Other Names: candlewood, myrique de pennsylvanie, small waxberry, swamp candleberry, tallow bayberry, tallow shrub, tallow tree, tallowshrub
Other Names: buffalo currant, clove currant, fragrant golden currant, golden flowering currant, spicebush