Morella cerifera
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 | |
Noted for: | Hurricane wind resistance |
Landscaping
Recommended Uses: | Good as a background or hedge plant that also attracts wildlife. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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: | Not salt tolerant of inundation by salty or brackish water. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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: |
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, etc. |
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. |