- Broadleaf evergreen shrub, 10-12(30) ft [3-3.7(9) m], many upright stems, loose. Leaves simple, alternate, clean looking, 5-11 cm long, narrow, lanceolate, dark green, light green below, dotted with black or yellow glands, regularly toothed. Flowers bloom in spring, small, and in male (staminate) and female (pistillate) catkin-like clusters, may also be bisexual; male and female clusters may be on the same or separate plants, often yellow-green and inconspicuous but may be reddish under good sun exposure. Fruits are warty, spherical, 6 mm diameter, green then dark purple to black, usually with a white waxy coating, evident in fall.
- Sun, or partial shade. Withstands damp locations and summer drought. It has root nodules containing nitrogen-fixing microorganisms, allowing it to grow in relatively poor soils. Used as a screen, can be pruned to keep it in shape. Considered one of the best looking native western shrubs for the garden.
- Hardy to USDA Zone 7 Native to the Pacific Coast and coastal valleys from Washington to southern California. Not to be confused with the similar M. gale (bog-myrtle, sweet-gale), which is a smaller (to 2 m) deciduous shrub, the lower side of its leaves are dotted with yellow waxy glands and its fruit is rather smooth.
- In contrast to Morella pensylvanica (Northern Bayberry), the leaves of Morella californica are not aromatic when crushed. In addition, the berries of M. californica have a low content of aromatic wax and thus are not used to make the scented candles associated with Northern Bayberry.
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Taxonomy: Myrica californica to Morella californica? A recent treatment of the family Myricaceae has Myrica californica renamed as Morella californica (Morella californica (Cham. & Schltdl.) Wilbur). Now the genus Morella has about 50 species ranging from North America, Europe, Africa, and Asia. Only few plants, such as Myrica gale, the bog-myrtle or sweet-gale of Europe and northeastern North America and Myrica hartwegii, the California native Sierra Myrtle remain in the genus Myrica (San Marcos Growers). The WFO Plant List (https://wfoplantlist.org/plant-list/) had Morella californica as the accepted name in 2024. However, the WFO Plant List has now been superseded by the World Flora Online, and it currently (Sept.23,2025) has Myrica californica as an accepted name in the genus Myrica (family Myricaceae) and Morella californica as a synonym.
- Myrica: Greek name for Tamarix, californica: of California.
- Oregon State Univ. campus: north of Shepard Hall.
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plant habit, several shrubs
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plant habit
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sheared, until someone ran out of ladder
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leaves
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leaf underside with glands
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leaves and stem, comparison
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leaves and flowers, spring, in shade
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leaves and flowers, spring, sun
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flower catkins and leaves, sun
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female, male and bisexual flowers
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flower spikes, mostly female
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developing fruit and leaves
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leaves and fruit
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shoot, leaves and fruit
