Myrica cerifera (Southern Wax Myrtle)

Southern Wax Myrtle (Myrica cerifera)

Height, Spread: 5-25 ft, 5-10 ft

Water/Soil: Moist, well-drained, occasionally dry or wet, sandy acidic soil

Light: Full sun-part shade

 Bloom: Spring, fragrant yellow or green catkins

Native Range: Eastern North America (NJ to Central America, Caribbean) 

Qualities: Wildlife resource, host plant, attractive to pollinators, salt tolerant, deer resistant

Notes: Semi-evergreen shrub or small tree commonly found in coastal sandy wetlands, pine forests, or riparian areas. It is dioecious meaning you need both a male and a female plant to get berries. A good wildlife resource, its berries provide food for birds, especially the Yellow-rumped warbler (Setophaga coronata) and it provides cover for birds and small mammals during the winter or extreme weather events. It is a host plant for the Red-banded Hairstreak butterfly (Calycopis cecrops) and a nectar source for bees and butterflies. It is best used as a privacy hedge or in riparian areas. It is nitrogen-fixing so it is good for restoration projects.