Wax Myrtle (Myrica cerifera) - How to Grow & Care Guide

Plant Snapshot

Common Name: Wax Myrtle
Latin Name: Myrica cerifera
Alternate Names: Southern wax myrtle, bayberry, southern bayberry
Hardiness Zones: Generally hardy roughly in USDA zones 6 to 10. In colder zones it may be semi-evergreen or suffer winter dieback. In warmer zones it stays evergreen and can be more vigorous and spreading.
Typical Height: Typically 6–12 ft (1.8–3.7 m) in landscape plantings. Can be taller in favorable wild stands.
Typical Spread: Often spreads 6–12 ft (1.8–3.7 m). Can form thickets by root suckering.
Bloom Period: Flowers appear as small catkins generally in spring. Timing varies by region.
Soil Preferences: Prefers well-drained sandy to loamy soils and acidic pH. Tolerates poor dry sandy soils and salt exposure. Poorly drained heavy clay can cause decline.
Light Preferences: Full sun to partial shade. Best berry set and dense growth in full sun.
Toxicity: Not widely listed as highly toxic but ingestion may cause mild stomach upset. Handling may cause skin irritation in sensitive individuals. Verify with local poison control for pet safety.
Propagation: Propagate by seed cuttings or by allowing and transplanting root suckers. Seeds require a female plant and pollination for viable fruit seed.

Key Facts

Evergreen to semi-evergreen shrub or small tree.
Dioecious with separate male and female plants.
Produces small wax-coated berries that attract birds.
Leaves are aromatic when crushed.
Tolerant of salt spray and poor sandy soils.
Forms nitrogen-fixing root associations with actinobacteria.
Used for hedges windbreaks and coastal screening.

Wax Myrtle is an evergreen to semi-evergreen shrub often used for hedges and coastal screening. It has aromatic foliage and produces small wax-coated berries that attract birds while tolerating salt spray and poor sandy soils.

Identification

Wax Myrtle is a shrub or small tree with aromatic leaves and inconspicuous spring catkin flowers. The species is dioecious so male and female plants are separate and only female plants produce the small waxy berries that birds eat. Height and spread typically reach about 6 to 12 feet in landscape settings.

Where to grow and best uses

Use Wax Myrtle for hedges windbreaks coastal screening and wildlife plantings where salt tolerance and sandy soils are needed. It performs best in full sun to partial shade and is generally suitable in USDA zones 6 to 10. Avoid low spots with prolonged standing water which can cause decline.

Planting and spacing

Space shrubs based on their mature spread roughly 6 to 12 feet apart for an informal screen or hedge. Plant at the same depth as the nursery container in well-drained soil and firm the soil around roots to remove air pockets. Planting season varies by climate so avoid planting into frozen or waterlogged ground.

Watering and soil

Prefers well-drained sandy to loamy soils and tolerates poor dry sandy sites and salt exposure. Keep young plants regularly watered until established then reduce frequency; established plants tolerate drought. Poorly drained heavy clay or prolonged waterlogging often leads to decline and should be avoided.

Pruning and after-flowering care

Prune to shape and control size any time of year that suits your landscape goals but avoid heavy removal of live wood during cold stress. Light annual pruning encourages dense growth for hedges and windbreaks. Flowering is by small wind-pollinated catkins so pruning timing has little effect on floral display.

Controlling spread and naturalizing

Wax Myrtle can spread by root suckers and form clonal thickets over time. To limit spread remove or transplant unwanted suckers and maintain a cleared strip at the base of plantings. Regular pruning and monitoring keep plants within their intended footprint in landscapes.

Propagation

Propagate by seed semi-hardwood cuttings or by transplanting root suckers. Seed production requires nearby male and female plants for pollination. Success with seeds and cuttings varies by locale and treatment so consult local extension guidance for region-specific propagation methods.

Frequently asked questions

How fast does Wax Myrtle grow?: Growth rate varies with site fertility moisture and cultivar. Plants often establish quickly and can form thickets over time through root suckering.
Is Wax Myrtle evergreen?: Yes it is evergreen to semi-evergreen. In colder parts of its range some winter dieback can occur and plants may behave as semi-evergreen.
What USDA zones is it hardy in?: Generally hardy roughly in USDA zones 6 to 10 though hardiness varies with microclimate and cultivar.
Do the berries attract wildlife?: Yes the small wax-coated berries are eaten by birds and help support wildlife in the landscape.
Is Wax Myrtle safe around pets and children?: Reports on toxicity are inconsistent. Verify safety for pets and children with local poison control or veterinary resources before allowing access.
How do I control spreading?: Remove unwanted suckers transplant them or prune regularly to keep plants within the desired area.