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Wax Myrtle about to get its day in the sun
Mississippi Gardens Newspaper and Web Column - June 30, 2003

There are often surprises in the horticulture world, but none seem to impress me as much as an unheralded native plant rising to fame and fortune. Trees and shrubs may go unnoticed or be shrugged off as unimportant until one day someone with an artistic eye notices that an otherwise insignificant plant really has potential. Such has been the case with the Southern Wax Myrtle (Myrica cerifera).

Twenty years ago, the Wax Myrtle could hardly be found in a production nursery virtually anywhere in the South. I remember seeing one growing all by itself, unpruned and unattended years ago. It had been left to grow in its naturally bushy form and was just a plant out of place. It never occurred to me to prune it or shape it. I just didn't see the potential, but I am very glad that someone else did.

Many years have passed since my first encounter with Wax Myrtle and now it is one the most widely used woody ornamentals in commercial landscapes. It can be found gracing the foundations of public buildings, hotels/motels and recreational facilities as well as highway medians and parks. It is most often pruned as a multi-stemmed tree planted in combination with other evergreen shrubs and groundcover. Every now and then it is used as a specimen or container plant by creative landscapers.

The Wax Myrtle is actually an old fashioned shrub that was used by early settlers. They boiled the leaves and fruits to extract wax, which they used to make bayberry candles. In the landscape we use the Wax Myrtle in many situations where we have full sun or partial shade. It prefers a fertile, moist, well-drained soil but will tolerate a wide range of soil conditions. Wax myrtle makes an excellent background plant, hedge and/or evergreen screen. It is tolerant of salt spray for coastal situations. In addition, it is reported that over 40 species of birds eat the wax myrtle fruit.

When purchasing wax myrtle in the garden center, look for plants in the 3 to 4 foot range for best landscape performance. They may not look great at that time but will fill out once planted (remember the ugly duckling). Although Wax Myrtle flowers and fruit are not of any real ornamental value it should be noted that only the female trees will have fruit that occurs in late fall and persists into the winter months.

Consider using Wax Myrtle in combination with evergreen groundcover such as Monkey grass or Asiatic Jasmine. It will also look great in combination with small evergreen shrubs such as Carissa Holly or Dwarf Yaupon. Wax Myrtle's rise to fame is completely justified and this plant has earned its place in Mississippi Gardens for many years to come.

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These archived columns were written by Kerry Johnson, a hobby gardener, former weekly newspaper columnist and an Area Extension Horticulture Agent for 11 coastal counties in Mississippi.