![]() Note that only female plants have berries. Propagation Tips: Plants spread and reseed on their own. In addition wax myrtle is the larval host for the red-banded hairstreak. Brown Thrashers, White-eyed Vireos, Ruby-crowned Kinglets, Palm Warblers, Eastern Bluebirds, and Gray Catbirds are some of the other species known to be attracted to the fruit. Tree Swallows also devour great quantities of wax myrtle fruit. ![]() Yellow-rumped Warblers, formerly known as Myrtle Warblers, have special digestive enzymes that break down the fruit's waxy coating. The waxy berries are a high-energy food source for birds in winter. The Wildlife Connection: Wax myrtles are wildlife-friendly. Essential allies in this ability to thrive on poor soils are root nodules of nitrogen-fixing bacteria. Elsewhere it occurs in highly acidic nutrient-poor pitcher-plant bogs. On the barrier islands of Virginia's eastern shore which offer few trees for nesting, large stands of mature wax myrtles have become rookeries for Great Blue Herons. It is relatively salt-tolerant, and grows in brackish margins of salt marshes on the Atlantic coast it is a dominant species in dune communities. Wax myrtle is tolerant of heavy soils, either wet or dry, open or wooded. The berries are covered with pale bluish-white wax long used to make bayberry candles. The "berries," actually drupes, appear on female plants only and persist through winter. The plants are dioecious, meaning either male or female, blooming February - March in our area. A sprig of wax myrtle in a drawer is reputed to keep cockroaches out. Because the aromatic compounds in the foliage were believed to repel insects, wax myrtle was commonly planted around homes to keep pests away. Aromatic when crushed, the dried leaves are used as a substitute for bay leaves for seasoning, and as a tea. They are glossy on the upper surface, duller underneath, with resinous glands on both. The 1.5- to 5-inch gray-green leaves are simple, alternate, with a few coarse teeth above the middle. It is an aromatic semi-evergreen small tree that normally matures between 6 and 20 feet tall. It can be propagated by cuttings.Chris Evans, River to River CWMA, ĭescription: ( by Don Gray) Southern wax myrtle is native to the coastal plains from Texas to Florida and north to New Jersey, occurring in a wide variety of sites from swamps to upland forests to stream banks and lakeshores. This species is native to parts of North America. It is somewhat tolerant of urban pollution. It is not particular as to soil pH, but grows best in poor soils. It may require supplemental watering during periods of drought or extended heat. It is quite adaptable, prefering to grow in average to wet conditions, and will even tolerate some standing water. This tree should only be grown in full sunlight. ![]() It grows at a fast rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for approximately 30 years. It has a low canopy, and is suitable for planting under power lines. Southern Wax Myrtle will grow to be about 15 feet tall at maturity, with a spread of 10 feet. ![]() Southern Wax Myrtle is recommended for the following landscape applications Gardeners should be aware of the following characteristic(s) that may warrant special consideration It is a good choice for attracting birds, bees and butterflies to your yard. This tree will require occasional maintenance and upkeep, and may require the occasional pruning to look its best. Its average texture blends into the landscape, but can be balanced by one or two finer or coarser trees or shrubs for an effective composition. Southern Wax Myrtle is a multi-stemmed evergreen tree with a more or less rounded form. The fragrant narrow leaves remain grayish green throughout the winter. It features subtle chartreuse catkins along the branches from late winter to early spring. It features an abundance of magnificent blue berries from mid summer to mid fall. Southern Wax Myrtle is primarily grown for its highly ornamental fruit. Select a male and female plant to produce the ornamental waxy-blue berries, that are a high energy food source for birds tolerant of wet or dry, infertile soil aromatic foliage repels insects, and is used to make candles a great hedge or screen ![]()
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