Is the bayberry an evergreen tree or a deciduous tree?

The bayberry is a famous fruit. Besides growing wild, it has a long history of cultivation, and because of artificial cultivation, many horticultural varieties have been bred. So, is the bayberry evergreen or deciduous?

1. Is the bayberry evergreen or deciduous?

The bayberry is an evergreen tree. Its drupe is oval, slightly flattened, red when ripe, with nipple-like protrusions on the outside; the exocarp is fleshy, full of juice and resin, and it is a very famous fruit. The bark is rich in tannins and can be used as a reddish-brown dye and as an astringent in medicine.

2. Cultivation techniques for bayberry

1. Growing environment: The bayberry likes moisture and tolerates shade. It has a large canopy and a wide-ranging root system. A bayberry orchard should be established on mountain or hilly land below 800 m in altitude, with a slope of less than 45 degrees, a thick humus layer, acidic yellow soil or red-yellow soil with a pH of 4.5-5.5, facing shade and with good ventilation, convenient for intensive management and transportation, with not-too-strong light and deep soil. The climatic conditions are a subtropical humid monsoon climate. Under microclimatic conditions with relatively strong solar radiation, sufficient heat, higher accumulated temperature in winter and spring, and moderately low rainfall distribution in summer and autumn, high quality and high yield are even more pronounced.

2. Land preparation: Land preparation should suit local conditions and be completed before planting from November to March of the following year. For woodland with a smaller slope and a gentle hillside, build contour terraces around the hill or terrace fields and dig planting holes; for woodland with a larger slope and complex terrain, also dig 1 m square fish-scale holes or triangular holes, and gradually convert them into narrow-band terraces during later tending.

3. Planting: The planting time for bayberry is generally from late February to mid-March, when the temperature has begun to warm up. It is best to do it on a cloudy day or a light rainy day, when the survival rate of individual planted trees is high. Variety selection should depend on the region, with a reasonable mix of early-, mid-, and late-maturing varieties. Suitable for planting in Xishan, Suzhou, are the Biqi and Wuzi bayberry varieties. Choose high-quality grafted Xishan, Suzhou bayberry seedlings that are robust, have a rich root system, and are free of pests and diseases. Fill the dug holes with 10-15 kg of decomposed barnyard manure plus 5-10 kg of burnt mud ash, plant moderately shallowly, then build small soil ridges around the plant and cover with soil in time to avoid exposing the roots. Xishan, Suzhou bayberry is dioecious, so 1-2% male plants need to be planted at the time of planting for pollination.

4. Fertilizer and water: In the same year, annual vegetables, medicinal plants, or green manure can be intercropped in the woodland to improve soil fertility. Young trees should mainly receive quick-acting fertilizer, with nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium applied together, and fertilization 2-3 times a year. Adult trees are top-dressed twice a year: the first time in late winter and early spring before buds sprout and shoots emerge, and the second time after fruit harvest, accounting for 50-55% of the annual fertilizer amount. Do a good job of soil improvement, drainage of waterlogged areas, and other work to ensure the high quality and high yield of the bayberry.

At present, there are many artificially cultivated bayberries, but bayberries spoil rather easily, so they must be sold or eaten in time.