Maleberry is a native, medium sized, deciduous shrub in the heath family found growing throughout North Carolina, typically in low, alluvial woods and thickets, wet meadows, bogs and lake shores. It matures at 12 feet tall with a width equal to, or twice, the height. The glossy green leaves turn an orange-red in the fall. The urn-shaped white flowers bloom in spring and early summer. This species is called Maleberry because it is similar in appearance to blueberry, but produces dry capsules instead of edible fruit. Maleberry requires wet, medium-drained, acidic soils and part to full sun. It blooms on previous years growth so prune after flowering. Two varieties occur in our region. Lyonia ligustrina var. foliosiflora has conspicuous bracts among the flowers in the inflorescence and is more common in the Coastal and Piedmont regions. Lyonia ligustrina var. ligustrina lacks conspicuous bracts among the flowers and is more common in the Mountains and Piedmont. Intermediates may be found in areas of overlap of the two varieties. Plant it in a shrub border or as a hedge in a woodland, rain, or water garden. Diseases, Insect Pests, and Other Plant Problems: No known diseases or insect pests.
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day) | Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Soil texture
Clay; Loam (Silt); Sand
Soil pH
Acid (<6.0)
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Moist | Occasionally Wet
NC region
Coastal; Mountains; Piedmont
Mature size
Height: 6 ft. 0 in. - 12 ft. 0 in. | Width: 6 ft. 0 in. - 12 ft. 0 in.
Canopy layer
3 - Shrub (3-15 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Erect; Multi-stemmed; Spreading
Foliage
Broadleaf Evergreen; Deciduous
Leaf color
Gray/Silver; Green
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf arrangement
Alternate
Leaf shape
Elliptical; Oblong
Leaf margin
Entire
Leaf size
1-3 inches long, 1-3 inches wide
Hairs present
Yes
Leaf detail
Ovate grey-green leaves covered with fine hairs are 2 to 3 inches long with a pointed tip. The fall color is orange-red.
Fall color
Orange; Red/Burgundy
Flower color
Pink; White
Flower form
Raceme
Flower shape
Urn
Flower size
< 1 inch
Flower detail
White flowers in spring and early summer on previous season's growth. Small, white or pink, urn-shaped and drooping, in terminal clusters.
Bloom time
Spring; Summer
Fruit color
Brown/Copper; Green
Fruit type
Capsule
Fruit detail
The 5-parted seed capsule is not edible and splits open when ripe.
Bark color
Dark Brown; Red/Burgundy
Bark detail
Brown to reddish-brown with long horizontal splits developing.
Stem detail
Young shoots are either covered with a close soft down or nearly glabrous with a zigzag growth.
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Native
Origin
Eastern United States
Distribution
Maine to Florida, west to Texas, north to Kentucky and New York.
Wildlife value
Maleberry is a nectar plant and produces good tasting honey. Members of the genus Lyonia support the following specialized bees: Colletes productu and Melitta (Cilissa) melittoides.
Problem for Cats; Problem for Dogs; Problem for Horses
Resistant to
Wet Soil
Propagation
Seed; Stem Cutting
Poison severity
High
Poison parts
Flowers; Leaves; Sap/Juice
Poison symptoms
Signs of Toxicity occur usually within six hours of consuming the plant. Symptoms include lack of coordination, excessive salivation, abdominal pain, bloating, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, headache, weakness, muscular spasms, watering of eyes and nose, slow pulse, colic, ataxia, depression, sweating, tingling of skin, convulsions, paralysis, coma, and sometimes even death. Toxicity in sheep, goats, cattle, and horses is most likely to occur in late winter or early spring when other forage is not available. Livestock are found down, unable to stand with their head weaving from side to side.