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N Bayberry -- male or female? #790106

Asked May 10, 2022, 5:05 PM EDT

Can you tell me if the Northern Bayberry bush in the attached images is male or female? If these images are not sufficient to sex the plant, any suggestions on how to find out?

Prince George's County Maryland

Expert Response

Hi!

For Northern Bayberries (Morella pensylvanica), sex of seedlings cannot be determined until the plant reaches maturity (three to four years). The exception is if you buy from a nursery who is able to tell you the sex of the original plant from which they propagated. Additionally, there are several 'sexed' cultivars available - if you have the plant tag you can check and see if you bought one of these varieties:

'Bobzam' / 'Bobbee' - female 
'Morton' Silver Sprite - female
'Myda' - female
'Myriman' - male
'Northern Girl' - female

The USDA Plant Guide page on Northern Bayberry has additional information about the tree that you might be interested in: https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_PLANTMATERIALS/publications/njpmcpg13479.pdf

Jamie


Answered by the Home and Garden Information Center (HGIC), University of Maryland Extension. For timely gardening information and tips, subscribe to our Maryland Grows blog and quarterly newsletter. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube. Replied May 11, 2022, 9:54 AM EDT

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