Other Names:  Southern Bayberry

Description:

A compact, dwarf selection featuring small-leaved, fragrant foliage; flowers are insignificant; tolerant of wet or dry, infertile soil; aromatic foliage repels insects; a great choice for low hedging, containers, or foundation planting

Ornamental Features

Strawberry Shortcake Southern Wax Myrtle has olive green evergreen foliage which emerges light green in spring on a plant with a mounded habit of growth. The small fragrant narrow leaves remain olive green throughout the winter. It produces blue berries from mid summer to mid fall.

Landscape Attributes

Strawberry Shortcake Southern Wax Myrtle is a multi-stemmed evergreen shrub with a mounded form. Its relatively fine texture sets it apart from other landscape plants with less refined foliage.

This shrub will require occasional maintenance and upkeep, and can be pruned at anytime. 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

Strawberry Shortcake Southern Wax Myrtle is recommended for the following landscape applications;

• Mass Planting
• Hedges/Screening
• General Garden Use
• Container Planting

Planting & Growing

Strawberry Shortcake Southern Wax Myrtle will grow to be about 3 feet tall at maturity, with a spread of 3 feet. It has a low canopy. It grows at a fast rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for approximately 10 years. This is a dioecious species, meaning that individual plants are either male or female. Only the females will produce fruit, and a male variety of the same species is required nearby as a pollinator.

This shrub should only be grown in full sunlight. It is very adaptable to both dry and moist locations, and should do just fine under typical garden conditions. It is considered to be drought-tolerant, and thus makes an ideal choice for a low-water garden or xeriscape application. This plant does not require much in the way of fertilizing once established. 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.

Strawberry Shortcake Southern Wax Myrtle makes a fine choice for the outdoor landscape, but it is also well-suited for use in outdoor pots and containers. Because of its height, it is often used as a 'thriller' in the 'spiller-thriller-filler' container combination; plant it near the center of the pot, surrounded by smaller plants and those that spill over the edges. It is even sizeable enough that it can be grown alone in a suitable container. Note that when grown in a container, it may not perform exactly as indicated on the tag - this is to be expected. Also note that when growing plants in outdoor containers and baskets, they may require more frequent waterings than they would in the yard or garden.