Myrica caroliniensis is a shrub or small tree native to the coast and coastal plains of southeastern North America.

This plant is one of several Myrica species that are sometimes split into the genus Morella, e.g. in the Integrated Taxonomic Information System.

[2][3][4] Myrica caroliniensis is a shrub or small tree adapted to a range of environments from dunes to pocosins, mostly associated with wetlands.

[4] The fruit is a source of food for many bird species, including the northern bobwhite quail and the wild turkey.

In winter, the seeds are important foods for the Carolina wren and species of tree sparrow.

In 1722, it was reported that colonists in Louisiana drank a mixture of wax and hot water to treat severe dysentery.

[9] Starting in the early 19th century, the herbalist Samuel Thomson recommended this plant for producing "heat" within the body and as a treatment for infectious diseases and diarrhea.

That use of bayberry waned later in the 19th century, in favor of using it for a variety of ailments, including a topical use for bleeding gums.

[10] For twenty years starting in 1916, bayberry root bark was listed in the American National Formulary.