Dwarf Wax Myrtle, Southern Bayberry
Morella cerifera
Family: | Myricaceae |
Genus: | Morella (mor-EL-a) (Info) |
Species: | cerifera (ker-EE-fer-uh) (Info) |
Synonym: | Cerothamnus ceriferus |
Synonym: | Cerothamnus pumilus |
Synonym: | Myrica cerifera |
Synonym: | Myrica cerifera var. pumila |
Synonym: | Myrica pusilla |
Category:
Shrubs
Foliage Color:
Bloom Characteristics:
Water Requirements:
Drought-tolerant; suitable for xeriscaping
Average Water Needs; Water regularly; do not overwater
Where to Grow:
Height:
20-30 ft. (6-9 m)
Spacing:
10-12 ft. (3-3.6 m)
Hardiness:
USDA Zone 7a: to -17.7 °C (0 °F)
USDA Zone 7b: to -14.9 °C (5 °F)
USDA Zone 8a: to -12.2 °C (10 °F)
USDA Zone 8b: to -9.4 °C (15 °F)
USDA Zone 9a: to -6.6 °C (20 °F)
USDA Zone 9b: to -3.8 °C (25 °F)
USDA Zone 10a: to -1.1 °C (30 °F)
USDA Zone 10b: to 1.7 °C (35 °F)
Sun Exposure:
Full Sun
Sun to Partial Shade
Danger:
N/A
Bloom Color:
Inconspicuous/none
Bloom Time:
Late Winter/Early Spring
Mid Spring
Foliage:
Evergreen
Other details:
Soil pH requirements:
5.1 to 5.5 (strongly acidic)
5.6 to 6.0 (acidic)
6.1 to 6.5 (mildly acidic)
Patent Information:
Non-patented
Propagation Methods:
From softwood cuttings
From semi-hardwood cuttings
Seed Collecting:
Regional
This plant has been said to grow in the following regions:
Atmore, Alabama
Tuskegee, Alabama
Morrilton, Arkansas
South Lyme, Connecticut
Auburndale, Florida
Bartow, Florida
Cocoa, Florida
Ellenton, Florida
Fernandina Beach, Florida
Hollywood, Florida
Indialantic, Florida
Keystone Heights, Florida
Lake City, Florida
Naples, Florida
Navarre, Florida
Oldsmar, Florida
Palmetto, Florida
Safety Harbor, Florida
Saint Augustine, Florida
Sarasota, Florida
Sebring, Florida
Summerfield, Florida
Tampa, Florida
Brunswick, Georgia
Lawrenceville, Georgia
Baton Rouge, Louisiana
Edgard, Louisiana
Gonzales, Louisiana
Grand Isle, Louisiana
Marrero, Louisiana
New Orleans, Louisiana
Paulina, Louisiana
Slaughter, Louisiana
Vacherie, Louisiana
Centreville, Maryland
Valley Lee, Maryland
Halifax, Massachusetts
Waynesboro, Mississippi
Chapel Hill, North Carolina
Durham, North Carolina
Julian, North Carolina
Sunset Beach, North Carolina
Florence, Oregon
Lansdowne, Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Bluffton, South Carolina
Columbia, South Carolina
Florence, South Carolina
Summerville, South Carolina
Sumter, South Carolina
Knoxville, Tennessee
Sevierville, Tennessee
Arlington, Texas
Cleburne, Texas
Cypress, Texas (2 reports)
Denton, Texas
Huffman, Texas
Irving, Texas
Jacksonville, Texas
New Caney, Texas
Rockport, Texas
Rowlett, Texas
San Antonio, Texas (2 reports)
Santa Fe, Texas
Spring, Texas (2 reports)
Sugar Land, Texas
Tyler, Texas
Cape Charles, Virginia
Gloucester, Virginia
Herndon, Virginia
Irvington, Virginia
Newport News, Virginia
Norfolk, Virginia
show allGardeners' Notes:
Rating | Content |
---|---|
Positive | On Feb 25, 2017, PhillyLover from Philadelphia Suburbs, PA (Zone 7a) wrote: Three years ago I planted several in full sun for year-round screening. They grow very quickly. Great fragrant foliage and trouble-free except for one thing, they are very susceptible to stem breakage from heavy snow and ice. One 4' plant split completely in half this winter covered with just 3" of sleet. I hope as they grow larger, they will be more resilient. They have remained evergreen for me through cold, dry, winter winds. |
Positive | On May 1, 2015, peachmcd from Durham, NC wrote: This truly is an effortless and beautiful native for my area (Durham NC); however, I wanted to mention what is not part of the description of the most common cultivar, 'Don's Dwarf': it is a male clone, so there will be no berries. |
Positive | On May 21, 2014, longjonsilverz from Centreville, MD wrote: Wax Myrtles grow wild locally here in Maryland (zone 7) around the Chesapeake Bay and Atlantic Ocean. They are a great choice for this area, but rarely seen in the landscape although somewhat popular in the South. They are perfect for wet areas and will tolerate full sun and shade. Growth rate is very fast for an evergreen, and can eventually be pruned into a small tree if allowed. Some wild ones are 15ft + tall in this area and larger in the South. They also make a good hedge screen and respond well to pruning. It is rumored that Wax Myrtles also repel mosquitoes. (I haven't noticed much of a difference though) Foliage starts to turn a little brown and some leaves drop as temperatures approach 0F. |
Positive | On May 21, 2013, h9kr4jg8ir5 from Spring, TX wrote: (Administrator: please remove the word "dwarf" from the name of this plant.) I had read that Wax Myrtles need lots of sunlight. So I didn't try to grow any until I had some sunny spots. I finally planted 20 bare-root seedlings this past winter and about 80% have survived in their first 6 months, which I'm very pleased with. A few are surviving in shade although not growing very rapidly. Several are doing well in very swampy soil. The ones in the sunny spots seem to be growing rapidly, or at least compared to Yaupon Holly. I think Wax Myrtles look beautiful and I wish I had planted more sooner. The only downside is that you probably can't plant them in a shady woodland garden. They seem to be perfect for planting in sunny areas along driveways and house foundations where there isn'... read more |
Positive | On Apr 18, 2011, mrickett from Lawrenceville, GA wrote: I garden mainly for wildlife. I wanted something I could plant along a chain link fence at the front of my house. Previous owner had Chineses privet and they were out of control. I purchased 15 of the Morella (Myrica) cerifera 'Don's Dwarf,' They are exactly what I wanted for that area. They were planted about five feet apart. Don's dwarf has formed a dense hedge hiding the fence but not overwhelming. I do not like clipped hedges. I prefer a natural look. These fit the bill. They are nicely shaped and require no maintenance. They are approximately five feet in height and width but still growing. They are said to grow 4-6 feet high and wide. Most of all the birds enjoy them. |
Positive | On Jan 5, 2011, Fires_in_motion from Vacherie, LA (Zone 9a) wrote: Just an awesome, bulletproof, small-to-medium tree for the entire Southeast. It's often thought of as a boring native forest shrub, so has little cachet value around here. It has a beautifully contorted, Olive Tree-esque (or dwarf Live Oak-esque) appearance when mature, though some people give it the topiary treatment for some unfathomable reason or another. I used to turn my nose up at this tree, not for its non-rarity, but rather for the slight orangey color at the tips of its new leaves. I dunno why, but this has always put me off for some reason. Maybe it's just mild chlorosis (iron deficiency)? I finally decided to get one after learning that the big multi-trunked stunner of a tree in the yard of my parents' neighbors in New Orleans is a Wax Myrtle. I had assumed it was some s... read more |
Positive | On Jan 11, 2005, DreamOfSpring from Charleston, SC (Zone 9a) wrote: I have 3 large (12-20') wax myrtles in my yard and the birds love them. Each tree has at least 1 bird's nest, sometimes more. The birds also seem to love the seeds so it's a home with a built in food supply. |
Positive | On Sep 3, 2004, growtexas1 from Henderson, TX wrote: An excellent landscape shrub or small tree. I have used them as entry plantings instead of the overused and harsher hollies. Collect seeds as soon as ripe in early-mid autumn. Remove waxy coating and plant in coldframes. Seeds will benefit from several weeks of cold stratification. |
Positive | On Jul 13, 2003, patp from Summerville, SC (Zone 8a) wrote: The Wax Myrtle is deer resistant, heat and drought tolerant, and grows freely in poor soil. The woody stem shapes can be as interesting as the trimmed foliage. Seeds are small and aromatic; new seedlings emerge beneath established plants. And if you're lucky, the plants are native to your area. |
Positive | On Aug 4, 2002, bleu wrote: The wax myrtle responds well to pruning, has attractive evergreen foliage and is a fast grower. The berries are a food source for birds in the winter. It repels insects, (particularly fleas); was often planted around southern homes to keep the fleas out. A sprig in a closet or drawer will keep out cockroaches. |