Morella cerifera

Common Names

Bayberry, Candleberry, Southern Bayberry, Southern Wax-Myrtle, Waxberry, Wax-Myrtle

Summary

Morella cerifera, commonly known as wax myrtle or southern bayberry, is an evergreen shrub or small tree in the Myricaceae native to the southeastern United States, typically forming a multi-stemmed dense to open canopy, reaching about 10–25 feet tall and 8–10 feet wide, with aromatic evergreen leathery leaves and a glossy green upper surface, flowers that are unisexual on catkins with male and female flowers on separate plants, female plants producing clusters of blue waxy fruits that persist through winter and are consumed by birds, while crushed foliage releases a bayberry fragrance, tolerant of full sun to partial shade, a wide range of soils, salt spray, and drought once established, it often suckers to form colonies and fixes atmospheric nitrogen via root nodules, propagation is by seeds requiring removal of the waxy coating and cold moist stratification for about 60–90 days or cuttings, in cultivation it is used as hedges or screens, specimen plantings, pond or stream margins, erosion control, restoration projects, and coastal plantings, it tolerates wet to dry soils, wind, and salt spray, and is hardy in USDA zones 7–10, pruning helps maintain form, and planting should consider nearby male plants for berry production since female plants produce blue waxy berries for wildlife, it has few serious pest or disease issues, supports wildlife by providing food for birds, and has historical uses for bayberry wax, though a potential fire hazard exists due to flammable aromatic compounds in the foliage

Lifecycle

Perennial

Height

10-15 feet

Spread

96-120 inches

Hardiness Zones

Zones 7a-11b

Sunlight Requirements

Ideally Full Sun; tolerates Partial Sun to Partial Shade.

Soil Type

No single ideal soil; wax myrtle tolerates a wide range of soils, including well-drained, sandy, slightly acidic soils and medium-to-wet or heavy soils.

Soil Drainage

Well-drained soil, tolerates a wide range from damp to dry

Soil pH

<6.8-7.2, Acidic to neutral, Tolerates a wide range including acidic and alkaline soils

Bloom Color

Insignificant

Bloom Time

Spring

Foliage Color

Olive green

Fall Foliage Color

No fall color change; evergreen foliage year-round.

Leaf Lifecycle

Evergreen broadleaf

Growth Rate

About 3–5 feet per year.

Seasons of Interest

Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter

Propagation Methods

Seeds, Cuttings, Division, Layering

Attracts Wildlife

Attracts birds, bees, butterflies, and other pollinators