Wax myrtle zone full#
Wax myrtle zone plus#

Plant wax myrtle in full sun to part sun or part shade, in an area where roots will not be disturbed.

Wax myrtles are natural hosts for Red-Banded Hairstreak butterflies, a beautiful species of pollinator native to the southeastern United States. Flowers appear in spring, and are small with a greenish tint. Grayish white clusters of fruit with a bluish, waxy coating remain on the plant throughout the winter in USDA zones 7 to 9. The fruit of the wax myrtle tree is an important source of food for birds, including the tree swallow, catbird, brown thrasher, and Myrtle Warbler, whose love of the tree earns it its name. Root disturbance or injury results in numerous suckers that must be pruned to keep the plant healthy.

When growing wax myrtle, avoid planting annuals and perennials around the roots of this plant. Use the wax myrtle tree in mixed shrub borders and as shade for the deck or patio. As a shrub, it has a rounded, narrow form and is attractive when limbed up for use as a small tree. Wax myrtle often exhibits growth of 3 to 5 feet (1-1.5 m) a year. This is the source of its other name, Southern bayberry. Its waxy berries would be harvested and used to make bayberry candles. That, paired with their high tolerance for salt spray and salinity in the soil, makes them a popular choice for planting in marshes and swamps, on the oceanfront, and along roads.įor years the wax myrtle tree was prized for its fragrance and flammability. Since they fix atmospheric nitrogen, they are not phased by poor or infertile soils. They do well in almost all growing conditions, but tend to do best in slightly acidic, sandy soil with good drainage. Tough and durable, Southern wax myrtle trees do not need kid-glove treatment to thrive. It thrives in USDA hardiness zones 7 through 10.

Wax myrtle zone plus#

These ornamental features, plus the plant’s easy-care ways have made wax myrtle – also known as Southern bayberry – an extremely popular landscape plant in warm-winter regions.

(When selecting a wax myrtle, be aware that both female and male plants and are needed to produce fruit.) The females bear inconspicuous flowers in spring, followed by clusters of gray-blue, waxy berries beloved by wildlife. As specimen trees, they form many-stemmed canopies of aromatic olive green leaves on smooth, twisted trunks. There is so much to love about a wax myrtle tree. Read here about growing tips for wax myrtle trees and shrubs. In the South they’re popular grown as hedges, but these attractive trees can also be used as specimens. Wax myrtle ( Myrica cerifera) is a small, broadleaf evergreen shrub that makes an excellent addition to almost any landscape.

When to plant: transplant in spring or fall.

Soil requirements: good drainage and slightly acidic soils.

Sun exposure: partial shade to full sun.

Botanical name: Morella cerifera formerly Myrica cerifera.

In purchasing from Carlo's Plant Farm, the customer acknowledges, understands, and agrees with all the above terms of the sale. If you post a negative review before contacting us we will demand you to take down the review and remind the customer of this terms of sale agreement. The customer agrees not to publish a negative review before contacting us. If you are unhappy with your order for any reason you agree to contact us as soon as possible. We reserve the right to delay shipping due to extreme heat or cold. Once your order is shipped, we offer no cancellation refund at all. Carlo’s Plant Farm agrees to assist the customer in filling out the form. If the order is damaged in any way during shipping, the customer agrees to file an insurance claim. The customer assumes all risk of loss or damage once USPS takes possession. All orders are insured against damage or loss. Terms of the sale: The customer agrees to all the following when purchasing from Carlo’s Plant Farm. Please read the following terms of the sale completely: After the mature root system is established, watering is needed occasionally, except during a drought, watering is needed regularly. This easy-to-grow evergreen shrub needs a regular water schedule to ensure the growth of a mature root system. Growth is approximately 3-5 feet per year.Īmount of Sunlight: Full sun/ partial sun Fertilize and achieving desired shape requires pruning. This salt tolerant evergreen shrub is used as a fast growing hedge or privacy screen. Pictures used for this web store depict mature plants of the correct species. These starter plants are less than 12 inches tall when we ship them.