PLANT FINDER
![tree tree](/Content/Images/Icons/CSC-WIcon-tree.png)
Southern Wax Myrtle
Myrica cerifera '(tree form)'
Height: 15 feet
Spread: 10 feet
Sunlight:
Hardiness Zone: 6b
Other Names: Southern Bayberry
Description:
Select a male and female plant to produce the ornamental waxy-blue berries, that are a high energy food source for birds; tolerant of wet or dry, infertile soil; aromatic foliage repels insects; makes an excellent small accent tree
Ornamental Features
Southern Wax Myrtle is primarily grown for its highly ornamental fruit. It features an abundance of magnificent blue berries from mid summer to mid fall. It features subtle chartreuse catkins along the branches from late winter to early spring. It has grayish green evergreen foliage. The fragrant narrow leaves remain grayish green throughout the winter.
Landscape Attributes
Southern Wax Myrtle is a multi-stemmed evergreen tree with a more or less rounded form. Its average texture blends into the landscape, but can be balanced by one or two finer or coarser trees or shrubs for an effective composition.
This tree will require occasional maintenance and upkeep, and may require the occasional pruning to look its best. It is a good choice for attracting birds, bees and butterflies to your yard. Gardeners should be aware of the following characteristic(s) that may warrant special consideration;
- Suckering
Southern Wax Myrtle is recommended for the following landscape applications;
- Accent
- Mass Planting
- Hedges/Screening
- General Garden Use
- Topiary
- Bog Gardens
Planting & Growing
Southern Wax Myrtle will grow to be about 15 feet tall at maturity, with a spread of 10 feet. It has a low canopy with a typical clearance of 4 feet from the ground, and is suitable for planting under power lines. It grows at a fast rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for approximately 30 years.
This tree should only be grown in full sunlight. It is quite adaptable, prefering to grow in average to wet conditions, and will even tolerate some standing water. It is not particular as to soil pH, but grows best in poor soils. It is somewhat tolerant of urban pollution. This is a selection of a native North American species. It can be propagated by cuttings; however, as a cultivated variety, be aware that it may be subject to certain restrictions or prohibitions on propagation.
This plant is not reliably hardy in our region, and certain restrictions may apply; contact the store for more information.
![Hardiness Zone Hardiness Zone](/Content/Images/Icons/shz6.gif)
![Plant Height Plant Height](/Content/Images/Icons/smh-t1e.gif)
![Minimum Sunlight Minimum Sunlight](/Content/Images/Icons/sml-fsun.gif)
![Accent Accent](/Content/Images/Icons/SAppl-Acce.gif)
![Massing Massing](/Content/Images/Icons/SAppl-Mass.gif)
![Screening Screening](/Content/Images/Icons/SAppl-Scre.gif)
![Garden Garden](/Content/Images/Icons/SAppl-Gard.gif)
![Topiary Topiary](/Content/Images/Icons/SAppl-Topi.gif)
![Bog Bog](/Content/Images/Icons/SAppl-Bog.gif)
![Flowers Flowers](/Content/Images/Icons/SAttr-Flow.gif)
![Fruit Fruit](/Content/Images/Icons/SAttr-Frui.gif)
![Attracts Wildlife Attracts Wildlife](/Content/Images/Icons/SAttr-Wild.gif)