Pin Cherry vs Northern Bayberry - TreeTime.ca

Pin Cherry vs Northern Bayberry

Prunus pensylvanica

Myrica pensylvanica

NOT AVAILABLE THIS SEASON - MIGHT RETURN

NOT AVAILABLE THIS SEASON - MIGHT RETURN

Pin Cherry
Northern Bayberry

Pin Cherry is a small tree that produces clusters of white blossoms in spring followed by bright red berries that ripen through the summer. The attractive red color of the leaves in the fall is an added bonus.

The fruit is quite sour when eaten fresh but is excellent when cooked into jam or jelly. Birds love the berries and will be attracted to your property.

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.

Pin Cherry Quick Facts

Northern Bayberry Quick Facts

Zone: 2a
Zone: 3a
Height: 9 m (30 ft)
Height: 2.4 m (8 ft)
Spread: 5 m (16 ft)
Spread: 2.4 m (8 ft)
Light: full sun
Light: partial shade, full sun
Moisture: normal
Moisture: normal
Growth rate: fast
Growth rate: slow
Life span: short
Life span: long
Suckering: low
Suckering: medium
Maintenance: medium


Toxicity: Warning: The wax from bayberry fruit is considered toxic and may be carcinogenic.
Fall colour: very bright orangish-red
Bark: reddish brown bark has an attractive appearance in the winter
Flowers: white
Fruit: clusters of edible, red cherries often used for jams and jellies
Berries: clusters of edible, red cherries often used for jams and jellies
Berries: blue-gray
Hybrid: no
Hybrid: no
Catkins: no
Catkins: yes


Native to: AB, BC, SK, MB, ON, QC, NS, NB, NL, NT, PE
Native to: ON, QC, NS, NB, NL, PE
Other Names: bird cherry, fire cherry, pincherry, red cherry, wild red cherry
Other Names: candlewood, myrique de pennsylvanie, small waxberry, swamp candleberry, tallow bayberry, tallow shrub, tallow tree, tallowshrub