Morella cerifera
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Wax Myrtle
MYRICACEAE
Also known as Myrica cerifera
Plant Specifics
| Form: | Shrub | |
| Size: | 10-15 (20) ft tall by 8 ft wide | |
| Life Span: | Long-lived perennial | |
| Flower Color: | NA | |
| Fruit Color: | White,green | |
| Phenology: | Evergreen. Inconspicuous blooms in spring. Fruits ripen in late summer to early fall. | |
| Noted for: | Hurricane wind resistance |
Landscaping
| Recommended Uses: | Good as a background or hedge plant that also attracts wildlife. Rain gardens or bioswales. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Considerations: | It is flammable, so plant away from buildings in fire-prone areas. It fixes nitrogen with its roots like a legume, so it tolerates poor soils. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Propagation: | Dioecious (separate male and female plants). Easily planted from seed or cuttings. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Availability: | Native nurseries, FNPS plant sales, Specialty providers | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Light: | Full Sun, Part Shade | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Moisture Tolerance: |
always floodedextremely dry |
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| (Stays Wet ----- to ----- Somewhat long very dry periods) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Moisture Tolerance: | Stays Wet ----- to ----- Somewhat long very dry periods | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Salt Water Flooding Tolerance: | Tolerant of occasional/brief inundation such as can occur in storm surges. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Salt Spray/ Salty Soil Tolerance: | Moderate. Tolerant of salty wind and may get some salt spray. Exposure to salt spray would be uncommon (major storms). | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Soil or other substrate: | Humus (organic, upland), Loam, Lime rock, Sand | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Soil pH: | Acidic to circum-neutral | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Ecology
| Wildlife: |
Good wildlife cover. Seeds eaten by birds. | |
| Insects: | Larval host for banded hairstreak (Satyrium calanus) and red-banded hairstreak (Calycopis cecrops)butterflies. | |
| Native Habitats: | Wet-dry sites. Upland mixed forest, floodplains, wetland edges, cutthroat seeps, old fields, scrub, fencerows |
Distribution and Planting Zones
Natural Range in Florida
USDA Zones
Suitable to grow in:
10A 10B 11 8A 8B 9A 9B
USDA zones are based on minimum winter temperatures
Comments
| Ethnobotany: | Interesting smell to the foliage. Candles were sometimes made using the wax that covers the seeds. | |
| General Comments: | There is a natural dwarf form that is associated with xeric uplands. I makes a nice, low-growing shrub in casual gardens. |