BAYBERRY (Myrica pensylvanica), also known as Wax Myrtle or Candleberry. Dates back to at least the 1700s in America. Its most unusual feature are its waxy berries which have historically been used to produce the aromatic bayberry candles so beloved at Christmas, but also sealing wax and surgeons soap plasters. A favorite high-energy winter food source for birds as well. A perennial, dioecious, evergreen shrub that can grow to 25 feet but also easily managed to smaller proportions. Can also be trained into various shapes or grown as bonsai subject. Once established, easy to propagate by digging up suckers (similar to raspberry production). The leaves are very fragrant when rubbed. 5 seeds. LIMITED QUANTITY.

MEDICINAL: An historic apothecary staple, the root bark is made into a powder used to treat diarrhea and dysentery and also as a gum treatment. The bark is separated from the fresh root in late autumn by pounding, thoroughly drying and grinding into powder. Store in darkened vessels. The aromatic compounds in the foliage seems to repel insects, particularly fleas. A traditional foundation planting for southern homes to keep living spaces pest free, a sprig in a drawer or closet is said to even keep cockroaches out!

TO MAKE CANDLES: American pioneers made candles from this delightful and useful plant by gathering the berries and boiling. The wax rises to the top and should be removed. It can be re-melted at 116-120 degrees, and for less brittle candles add a little beeswax before pouring into molds.

GROWING TIPS: Vigorous and easy to grow in a wide range of conditions. Also salt tolerant so good candidate for seaside. Like legumes, it fixes nitrogen in the soil, making it more sustainable in infertile soils and so may also benefit from inoculate when sowing. Full sun to partial shade, wetlands to uplands. Zones 7-10. Starting outdoors, place in pot and cover with 3xwidth of soil and sink pot partially into the ground and cover with mulch for the winter. In the spring when germination begins, remove mulch. If starting indoors, place seeded pot or flat in fridge until germination begins - this can take 2-12 months, depending on many factors including the waxy exterior of the seeds (berries). You can take the seed box out anytime in the third month. Move to room temperature and germination should begin a month or so later. The seed supplied has had the wax removed, so germination should be sooner rather than later. Should be scarified before planting in outdoor nursery bed or flats in the fall, winter or very early spring (use a straw mulch to protect), or cold-condition for 6-8 weeks. Space hardened off plants at least 15 feet apart. Bayberry prefers acidic soil – pH between 4 and 5. A soil-sand-peat (1-1-1 ratio) is recommended.

CHERRYGAL HEIRLOOM GARDEN SEEDS & PLANTS offer hundreds of heirloom and vintage open-pollinated varieties. Most have histories dating back centuries and are tried and true producers. Some are rare, or threatened with extinction. When you grow a plant from heirloom seed and save that seed, you are participating in a practice that goes back for generations. Our grandparents and their grandparents grew these varieties. Often the seeds were prized possessions carried to the New World when they emigrated.

Ever notice how most seed catalogs require you to buy much more seed than you could possibly use in a season? If you have a budget for garden seeds, this limits your choices! Although seeds can be viable for longer than one growing season, it requires that they be stored at a consistent temperature and humidity. Few of us do this. CherryGal sizes its seed packets for the home gardener, because we know you may want to grow 5 different lettuces, or three different corns, or 50 different vegetables, herbs and flowers -- and don’t want to have to take out a second mortgage to pay for it all! We strive to keep our overhead as low as possible so our seed prices can stay as low as possible. So we do not have a huge staff, no printed catalogues -- just very fine fresh heritage seeds at unbelievable prices. CHERRYGAL SEEDS ARE A TREMENDOUS BARGAIN!

Another important reason to grow a large variety of plants is that one of the chief culprits in honey bee colony collapse disorder seems to be that their immune systems are weakened by the prevalence of commercial mono-cropping. In other words, bees pollinating only one variety crop have a diet equivalent to eating only bread. Growing an abundant variety of vegetables, herbs and flowers will help sustain our precious honeybees!

All seeds offered are FRESH stock, with high germination rates, tested by the growers and myself. Varieties are specially selected for home gardeners. If you want the flavor you remember from grandma's kitchen garden or the beauty of her cottage flowers, choose CHERRYGAL HEIRLOOM SEEDS.

ABOUT OPEN-POLLINATED SEEDS . . . All CherryGal Heirloom Seeds are heirlooms (dating at least 100 years) or vintage (mid-20th Century or older) varieties, with an occasional modern variety included which I believe merits special attention. All CherryGal Heirloom Seeds are OPEN-POLLINATED. This means saved seed will be true to the parent. Don't be dazzled by the never-ending array of hybrid seeds promoted by gardening suppliers. First, seeds from that produce will not grow true to the parent -- you have to keep buying the hybrid seed (get the picture?). Second, most hybrids are developed for market – not home -- growers with an emphasis on extended shelf life, storage and shipping qualities -- NOT flavor, texture, fragrance and all those other elements that home growers seek.

All CHERRYGAL HEIRLOOM SEEDS come from reputable growers (with a preference given to small independent farms) and wherever possible ORGANIC suppliers (so noted). We do not knowingly offer any genetically modified seeds, and customers should understand that in order to be designed “certified organic” a seed is by law not genetically modified. By buying CHERRYGAL SEEDS you are supporting the growing worldwide movement of SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE and with a little practice you will be able to save even more money in the future by growing these open-pollinated varieties and saving seed for next year.

Please Note: CherryGal Heirloom Seeds are guaranteed to be fresh to the season stock, but are not guaranteed as to results. Sorry, but there are too many variables in gardening that can impact germination so please do not ask for a refund, replacement or to return unused seed. I always recommend that if you are new to gardening, or to a particular type of plant or variety, that you grow just a few at first to test your germination method. Email with any questions - I always respond promptly. Having said all that, we think you will be pleased and would like to hear about your gardening success!

SPECIAL NOTE TO MARKET GROWERS: We market to the home gardener, but we are happy to fill your order for multiples of any variety available. We do not offer bulk discounts. Also, we will not accept responsibility for crop failures, so please keep that in mind as purchase constitutes acceptance of 100% of the risk involved in growing any seed offered at CherryGal.com.

SHIPPING: This is important! Practiced gardeners know that the best time to order seeds is as early as possible in the season. I do not list varieties for sale that are not in hand, unless it is noted as "coming." I also add/subtract varieties all season long as inventory fluctuates, so check back often. We are constantly improving our fulfillment procedures to decrease the amount of time from order to shipping. We have added a SHIPPING BANNER to the front of the site and on every listing page which will give you the current time frame for shipping seeds. In off-season, seeds ship very quickly - usually the next business day. But as the prime season comes on, shipping can slow. Please consult this shipping banner before you purchase, so there will be no disappointments! We fulfill orders in the order received. Choosing priority or express shipping does not influence the speed with which your order is processed, only the speed with which it moves through the postal system. I package my seeds for shipping in a manner appropriate to the amount and type of seed - larger orders and larger seeds require more packaging. Whether you choose first class mail or priority shipping, your seeds will ship using a delivery confirmation number which will be supplied to you. Our checkout system is keyed to the US Postal System. For small seed orders, I recommend choosing FIRST CLASS mail at checkout. Larger orders (over 13 ounces) can ship either parcel post, or you may find PRIORITY MAIL to be less expensive, depending on your zipcode. (I gave up trying to figure out the US Postal System rates a long time ago).

I appreciate all my CherryGal.com customers, but have a special affinity for my seed customers. If you have a problem, please email me, using the contact links that are all over the website. Calling is likely to be a frustrating experience, as I do not have the staff to answer the phone, but your email will be promptly responded to.

Lastly, keep an eye out for my end of season sale which starts in June until all inventory is sold. It is always a bargain and helps us clear the shelves each season so that I am offering you only the freshest seeds year to year. Happy Gardening and don't forget to share your garden surplus with your local food bank.