MacFarlane’s Bayberry: A Rare Native Hybrid Worth Knowing
If you’re a native plant enthusiast always on the lookout for something unique, you might have stumbled across the name Morella ×macfarlanei, also known simply as bayberry. This intriguing plant is what botanists call a hybrid – essentially nature’s own experiment in plant breeding. But before you start planning where to plant it, let’s dive into what makes this particular bayberry so special (and so elusive).
What Exactly Is MacFarlane’s Bayberry?
Morella ×macfarlanei is a perennial, woody tree that can grow to impressive heights of over 13-16 feet. The × in its name is a dead giveaway that this is a hybrid species, meaning it’s the result of two different Morella species crossing paths and creating something new. You might also see it listed under its older scientific name, Myrica ×macfarlanei.
As a true native to the United States, this bayberry calls the lower 48 states home, though it’s been documented specifically in New Jersey. This extremely limited distribution is one of the things that makes this plant so fascinating – and so challenging to find.
The Reality Check: Why This Bayberry Is So Mysterious
Here’s where things get interesting (and a bit frustrating for us plant lovers). MacFarlane’s bayberry is one of those plants that seems to exist more in botanical records than in actual gardens. Information about this specific hybrid is incredibly scarce, which tells us a few important things:
- It’s likely quite rare in the wild
- It may not be readily available in nurseries
- Its growing requirements and characteristics aren’t well-documented
- It might be naturally occurring only in very specific conditions
Should You Try to Grow MacFarlane’s Bayberry?
This is where being a responsible native plant gardener comes into play. While the idea of growing a rare native hybrid sounds appealing, the reality is that you’re unlikely to find this plant available for purchase. The extreme rarity and limited documentation suggest that if this plant does exist in cultivation, it should only be grown from responsibly sourced material.
If you’re drawn to the idea of bayberries in your landscape, consider these more readily available native alternatives:
- Northern bayberry (Morella pensylvanica) – excellent for coastal areas
- Southern bayberry (Morella cerifera) – great for warmer climates
- Sweet gale (Myrica gale) – perfect for wetland gardens
The Bigger Picture: Understanding Plant Hybrids
MacFarlane’s bayberry serves as a great example of how complex plant taxonomy can be. Hybrids like this one often occur naturally when two related species grow in overlapping ranges and cross-pollinate. Sometimes these hybrids are sterile, sometimes they’re fertile, and sometimes they represent evolutionary stepping stones to new species.
The fact that this particular hybrid has been given its own scientific name suggests it was significant enough to warrant botanical recognition, yet the lack of widespread documentation indicates it’s either extremely rare or perhaps exists only in very specific ecological niches.
What This Means for Your Garden
While you probably won’t be planting MacFarlane’s bayberry anytime soon, understanding plants like this helps us appreciate the incredible diversity of native flora. It also highlights the importance of preserving natural habitats where these rare hybrids might occur.
If you’re interested in supporting bayberry conservation and want similar benefits in your garden, focus on the more common Morella species. They’ll give you those classic bayberry features – waxy berries that birds love, tolerance for coastal conditions, and that wonderful native plant satisfaction – while being much more attainable and well-understood.
The Bottom Line
MacFarlane’s bayberry remains something of a botanical mystery – a native hybrid that exists more in scientific literature than in garden centers. While this might be disappointing if you were hoping to add it to your collection, it’s also a reminder of how much we still don’t know about our native flora. Sometimes the most interesting plants are the ones that keep us guessing, and MacFarlane’s bayberry certainly does that.
For now, appreciate this plant for what it represents: the ongoing story of plant evolution and the importance of preserving the wild spaces where such natural experiments can continue to unfold.
