1. What’s your favourite colour?
Rich, glossy green. I wear it almost year round. I know it’s fashionable among deciduous types to choose flashy red or orange in fall, but I stick with green as long as possible. In early winter, I opt for elegant tan or bronze.
2. How did you get your nickname?
Pluck one of my leaves, gently crumble it between your fingers, and you’ll have the answer. My family name is Myricaceae, which means fragrance. In fact, I’m a subtle substitute for the Mediterranean bay leaves you buy in the store to add to soup and stew.
3. Favourite hangout?
My native home is a thin stretch of land along the coast of North America or Turtle Island, from Newfoundland to the Carolinas. But I’m not fussy about where I settle. You can find me on sandy beaches, at the edge of forests, and along trails.
4. Do you have a secret claim to fame?
Since you asked! I have another nickname: candleberry. The seeds I produce in fall are covered in thick wax. If you have some time on your hands, you can boil these seeds, skim off the wax, and make fragrant, quick-burning candles.
5. BFF?
Believe it or not, my best friend is the yellow-rumped warbler. This is the only warbler who can digest the wax on the seeds I produce. Thanks to me, this little cutie can live in more northern climates. And thanks to my BFF, bayberry seeds are spread far and wide.
6. What’s your superpower?
I can withstand poor soil, wet soil, dry soil, full sun, partial shade, strong winds, and sea spray. Tell that to your begonias! But my real superpower lies below the surface. My roots are home to bacteria that convert nitrogen in the air to usable nitrogen in the soil. This means I improve the soil around me.
7. One wish?
Notice me. So many people walk right by. I know they’re thinking “green shrub” but I’m so much more. Stop and smell the bayberry!
