The Essentials of Southern Waxmyrtle

Southern waxmyrtle has multiple, twisted trunks with smooth, light gray bark. Wax myrtle is aromatic with olive green leaves and clusters of grey-blue, waxy berries on female plants which attract wildlife.

Waxmyrtle is a popular landscape plant, ideal for use as a small tree if the lower limbs are removed to display its form. Waxmyrtle can stand impossible soil conditions, is rapid-growing and a striking evergreen. Without pruning, it will grow as wide as it is tall, usually 10' to 20'.

Specifics

• Scientific name: Myrica cerifera
• Pronunciation: MEER-ih-kuh ser-IF-er-uh
• Common name(s): Southern Waxmyrtle, Southern Bayberry
• Family: Myricaceae
• Origin: native to North America
• USDA hardiness zones: 7b through 11
• Origin: native to North America
• Uses: Bonsai; container or above-ground planter; hedge; large parking lot islands

Cultivars

The cultivar 'Pumila' is a dwarf form, less than three feet high.

Myrica pensylvanica, Northern Bayberry, is a more cold-hardy species and the source of wax for bayberry candles. Propagation is by seeds, which germinate easily and rapidly, tip cuttings, division of the stolons or transplanting wild plants.

Pruning

Waxmyrtle is a very forgiving tree when pruned. Dr. Michael Dirr says in his book Trees and Shrubs that the tree "withstands the endless pruning required to keep it in check." Wax myrtle will need pruning to keep it specimen beautiful.

Removing excess shoot growth two times each year eliminates the tall, lanky branches and reduces the tendency for branches to droop. Some landscape managers hedge the crown into a multi-stemmed, dome-shaped topiary.

Description

• Height: 15 to 25 feet
• Spread: 20 to 25 feet
• Crown uniformity: Irregular outline or silhouette
• Crown shape: Round; vase shape
• Crown density: Moderate
• Growth rate: Fast

Trunk and Branches

• Trunk/bark/branches: Bark is thin and easily damaged from mechanical impact; limbs droop as the tree grows, and may require pruning; routinely grown with, or trainable to be grown with, multiple trunks; showy trunk
• Pruning requirement: Requires pruning to develop a strong structure
• Breakage: Susceptible to breakage either at the crotch due to poor collar formation, or the wood itself is weak and tends to break
• Current year twig color: Brown; gray
• Current year twig thickness: Thin

Foliage

• Leaf arrangement: Alternate
• Leaf type: Simple
• Leaf margin: Entire; serrate
• Leaf shape: Oblong; oblanceolate; spatulate
• Leaf venation: Pinnate
• Leaf type and persistence: Evergreen; fragrant
• Leaf blade length: 2 to 4 inches
• Leaf color: Green
• Fall color: No fall color change
• Fall characteristic: Not showy

Interesting Notes

Waxmyrtle can be planted within 100+ miles of the U.S. border, from Washington state to Southern New Jersey and south. It withstands endless pruning. Waxmyrtle fixes nitrogen in poor soils and transplants well from containers.

Culture

• Light requirement: Tree grows in part shade/part sun; tree grows in the shade; tree grows in full sun
• Soil tolerances: Clay; loam; sand; acidic; alkaline; extended flooding; well-drained
• Drought tolerance: Moderate
• Aerosol salt tolerance: High
• Soil salt tolerance: Moderate

In Depth

Southern Waxmyrtle is very tough and easily grown and can tolerate a variety of landscape settings from full sun to partial shade, wet swamplands or high, dry and alkaline areas. Growth is thin in total shade. It is also very salt-tolerant (soil and aerosol), making it suitable for seaside applications.

It adapts well to parking lot and street tree planting, especially beneath power lines, but branches tend to droop toward the ground, possibly hindering the flow of vehicular traffic if not properly trained and pruned. Set them back from the road if used as a street tree so drooping branches will not hinder traffic.

Removing excess shoot growth two times each year eliminates the tall, lanky branches and reduces the tendency for branches to droop. Some landscape managers hedge the crown into a multistemmed dome-shaped topiary. Plants spaced 10 feet apart, maintained in this manner, can create a nice canopy of shade for pedestrian traffic. Plants should be watered well until established and will then require no further care.

The only drawback to the plant is its tendency to sprout from the roots. This can be a nuisance as they need to be removed several times each year to keep the tree looking sharp. However, in a naturalized garden this thick growth could be an advantage since it would provide good nesting cover for wildlife. Only female trees produce fruit provided there is a male nearby, but seeds do not appear to become a weed problem in the landscape.