Top Hat Blueberry vs Northern Bayberry - TreeTime.ca

Top Hat Blueberry vs Northern Bayberry

Vaccinium x Top Hat

Myrica pensylvanica

NOT AVAILABLE THIS SEASON - MIGHT RETURN

NOT AVAILABLE THIS SEASON - MIGHT RETURN

Top Hat Blueberry
Northern Bayberry

Top Hat Blueberry is ideal for decks, patios, and small yards. This compact blueberry produces loads of good tasting berries early in the summer. This variety's berries are well suited for baking.

While Top Hat Blueberry is self-pollinating, we recommend pairing it with another suitable blueberry to increase the berry production of both varieties.

We recommend planting Top Hat Blueberry into the ground or into planters that have at least 5 gallons of soil per plant for the best results. Do not plant them into pots (voids your guarantee).

Note: Blueberries require very specific soil conditions. They need well-drained soil with a pH between 4.5 and 5.0. If the starting pH of your soil is between 5.1 and 6.2 you can lower it by adding sulfur. We recommend against planting blueberries in soil with a starting pH greater than 6.2. Please do your own research before buying any blueberry plants.

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.

Top Hat Blueberry Quick Facts

Northern Bayberry Quick Facts

Zone: 3a
Zone: 3a
Height: 0.5 m (1.5 ft)
Height: 2.4 m (8 ft)
Spread: 0.5 m (1.5 ft)
Spread: 2.4 m (8 ft)
Light: partial shade, full sun
Light: partial shade, full sun
Moisture: normal
Moisture: normal
Growth rate: medium
Growth rate: slow
Life span: short
Life span: long
Suckering: none
Suckering: medium


Toxicity: Warning: The wax from bayberry fruit is considered toxic and may be carcinogenic.
Fall colour: orange-red
Berries: large clusters of blue berries
Berries: blue-gray
Fruit size: medium
Firmness: firm
Flavor: good
Harvest: early to mid summer
Hybrid: no
Hybrid: no
Catkins: no
Catkins: yes


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