Is wax myrtle a tree or bush?
Wax Myrtle is an evergreen tree that may grow 20 to 25 feet tall, but usually is much shorter. The light olive green leaves are alternate with a toothed margin, a spicy aromatic odor when crushed, and yellow resin dots on both surfaces. The bark is thin, smooth, and gray-brown, almost white.
How big does a wax myrtle get?
20 ft.A wispy, 6-12 ft., multi-trunked, evergreen shrub, southern bayberry or wax myrtle can reach 20 ft. in height. The light olive-green foliage has a spicy fragrance. Pale blue berries occur on female plants in the winter.
How fast do wax myrtle trees grow?
3 to 5 feetFrom 3 to 5 feet of growth per year, the Wax Myrtle is one of the fastest-growing privacy hedges. Hardy plant. This shrub tree is no maintenance once established. The Wax Myrtle tolerates drought, heat, and salt.
How can you tell a wax myrtle?
Wax Myrtle or Southern Bayberry (Myrica cerifera) They are thin, often coarsely serrated along the apical margins and have tiny glands (dots) on both sides. The trunk is crooked and covered with grayish-white bark. Flowers are inconspicuous. Fruits are grayish blue, borne in dense clusters.
Does wax myrtle stay green all year?
Leaves. Crape myrtles are a group of deciduous trees and shrubs, while wax myrtles include evergreen and semi-evergreen shrubs and trees. Evergreen wax myrtle foliage does not change color in the fall and the leaves emit a fragrance when crushed.
Do wax myrtles repel mosquitoes?
Wax myrtle (Morella cerifera or Myrica cerifera) is native to the American southeast where residents traditionally planted it as an insect repellent. The presence of wax myrtle shrubs repel many types of insects and rubbing skin with the crushed leaves keeps mosquitoes away.
Do wax myrtles lose their leaves in winter?
Wax myrtle is native from New Jersey to Florida and west to Texas, says Miller. Its close relative, the northern bayberry (Myrica or Morella pensylvanica), is sometimes seen in Virginia; it's deciduous to semi-evergreen, so in cold winters it loses most or all of its leaves.
Does wax myrtle have invasive roots?
A. The Wax Myrtle has a non invasive root system. Depending on the mature size of the tree, the distance it is set from the house will control the amount of shade given in a certain area.
Do wax myrtles spread?
Hedge Spacing for Wax Myrtle To produce an unbroken hedge, your wax myrtles must be no farther apart than their eventual spread, usually about 20 or 25 feet. If each plant reaches 20 feet, and therefore spreads to 10 feet on each side, then two hedges will eventually meet in the middle of a 20-foot spacing.
Are wax myrtles a fire hazard?
DISCUSSION AND QUALIFICATION OF FIRE EFFECT: Wax myrtle stems die quickly. The stems and foliage of southern bayberry contain large amounts of aromatic compounds that are quite flammable [6], making it a potential fire hazard.
Can you cut back a wax myrtle?
You can prune the old branches severely now, sparing the suckers; don't wait until it starts to get hot. Then, after that, prune it a couple times of year to help it regrow into a hedge size and shape.
Does wax myrtle repel fleas?
0:183:23Myrtle Bushes for Flea Control - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipThe southern wax myrtle bush maraca sareth era is used to repel fleas.MoreThe southern wax myrtle bush maraca sareth era is used to repel fleas.
Do wax myrtles have invasive roots?
A. The Wax Myrtle has a non invasive root system. Depending on the mature size of the tree, the distance it is set from the house will control the amount of shade given in a certain area.
Do wax myrtles lose their leaves in winter?
Wax myrtle is native from New Jersey to Florida and west to Texas, says Miller. Its close relative, the northern bayberry (Myrica or Morella pensylvanica), is sometimes seen in Virginia; it's deciduous to semi-evergreen, so in cold winters it loses most or all of its leaves.
How long do wax myrtles live?
It is often used on landscapes to provide a privacy barrier, owing to its thick foliage and moderately dense growth habit. Depending on how thick you want your hedge, you can plant wax myrtle at different distances from one another. The wax myrtle lifespan is about 30 years, advises Calloway's Nursery.
What time of year do you plant wax myrtle?
As hot as it probably is where you are, we would say not to plant it a minute before December 1st, and have it in the ground by January 31st. From our Step by Step Guides, here are instructions on How To Plant a Tree.
What is a wax myrtle tree?
The wax myrtle tree or shrub is often used for a fast growing hedge or privacy screen and may be used singly as an attractive specimen plant in the yard.
How big does wax myrtle grow?
Wax myrtle often exhibits growth of 3 to 5 feet (1 to 1.5 m.) a year. As a shrub it has a rounded, narrow form and is attractive when limbed up for use as a small tree. Use the wax myrtle tree in mixed shrub borders and as shade for the deck or patio.
When do wax myrtles appear?
Include the wax myrtle tree in your natural or wildlife friendly area. Flowers appear in spring ; they are small with a greenish tint.
Can wax myrtle be planted in the sun?
Plant wax myrtle in a full sun to part sun area where roots will not be disturbed. This plant is salt tolerant and takes sea spray well, making it an exceptional beach front planting. The wax myrtle is adaptable to a range of soils, but prefers the soil to be moist.
Mature Height/Spread
Growth Rate
- Common waxmyrtle grows very fast, sometimes as much as 5 feet in height and width in a single growing season.
Landscape Use
- Wax myrtles are useful as screen plants, informal hedges, or roadside plantings. The foliage and berries are pleasantly aromatic. Birds are attracted to wax myrtles, which they use for food and shelter. The waxy berries were used for making candles in Colonial times. Waxmyrtles make good beach plants, since they tolerate drought, sand, sun and salt spray.
Cultivation
- Waxmyrtles are not particular about soil, but they prefer good drainage and slightly acidic soils. Common waxmyrtle should be planted in partial shade to full sun. They do not require a lot of maintenance. Plants may be pruned (limbed up) to form an attractive small tree with a handsome gray, almost white bark. Common waxmyrtle is sensitive to cold...
Problems
- Waxmyrtles are tough, durable shrubs. They have no serious plant diseases or insect pests. Infrequently waxmyrtles may have a leaf spot. Iron chlorosis (yellowing of the leaf tissue between the veins) is a problem in high pH soils.
Cultivars
- ‘Fairfax’ has a compact mounding form that grows to 6 to 8 feet high. The leaves are smaller and lighter green than those of the species. This spreading, colonizing selection was found in Fairfax,...
- ‘Don’s Dwarf’ has a compact habit, and grows to 3 to 5 feet tall and wide. This female cultivar is resistant to leaf spot.
- ‘Fairfax’ has a compact mounding form that grows to 6 to 8 feet high. The leaves are smaller and lighter green than those of the species. This spreading, colonizing selection was found in Fairfax,...
- ‘Don’s Dwarf’ has a compact habit, and grows to 3 to 5 feet tall and wide. This female cultivar is resistant to leaf spot.
- ‘Tom’s Dwarf’ is a male selection that grows to 3 to 4 feet (to possibly 6 feet) tall and 4 to 6 feet wide. This male cultivar has resistance to leaf spot.
- ‘Hiwassee’ is a larger selection that is more cold hardy than the straight species. It withstood -4 °F in Tennessee without leaf burn.
Related Species
- Dwarf Waxmyrtle or Dwarf Bayberry (Morella pumila; formerly Myrica pumila): As the name implies, this dwarf waxmyrtle has the smallest height and the leaves are considerably smaller than the other species in South Carolina. The plants grow to less than 3 feet tall and are strongly stoloniferous, which means the plants spread to form colonies. Flowering in this dwarf species i…