Morella cerifera

wax myrtle, southern bayberry

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Photo credit: Britt Slattery/U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Chesapeake Bay Field Office, Annapolis, MD 21401. www.fws.gov/r5cbfo
Family

Myricacea

Region

Coastal Plain

States

Delaware, Maryland, Virginia

Plant Type

Medium Shrub, Small/Medium Tree (Understory), Tall Shrub

Height

6 - 15ft

Spread

6 - 15ft

Flower Color

Green, Yellow

Fruit

Berry; Blue, White

Sun Exposure

Full Sun, Partial Sun

Soil Texture

Clay, Loamy, Sandy

Soil Moisture

Dry, Moist, Wet

Blooms

March - June

Fall Color

evergreen in southern areas

Habitat

tidal and nontidal fresh and brackish marshes, swamps, sandy dune swales, upland hardwood forests

Notes

fragrant; loses leaves north and west of Ches. Bay, MD north; may reach 30 feet; can be pruned as hedge; nitrogen fixer; tolerates salinity to 10 ppt; Bark of wood used as an astringent; wax is collected for making candles

More Information

Landscaping with Native Plants
Native Plant List
How to Shop for Native Plants
Plant Invaders of the Mid Atlantic

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Resources

The Native Plants Guide

Physiographic Regions of Chesapeake Watershed

Mountain
Piedmont
Coastal Plain