Trees of Alabama and the Southeast Home Page

Leaves are simple, alternate, evergreen, about 3 inches long, irregularly toothed, very aromatic when crushed and with yellow glands on both sides.  Twigs are gray and glandular.  Bark is gray and smooth with horizontal lenticels.  The fruit is a blue-white, waxy drupe that was used in candle-making.  Southern bayberry is found on a range of sites in the southeastern U.S. and is tolerant of shade.  This species is planted as an ornamental.  Some say the crushed leaves will repel bugs when rubbed on the skin.

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 All text and photographs are intended for educational purposes only and are not for commercial use in any form.  All photographs are copyrighted by the named photographer(s), text copyright by Lisa Samuelson. © 2005, all rights reserved. Photographs by Mike Hogan.