common wax-myrtle

Plant Type

Small Tree/Large Shrub (10-25 ft)

Life Cycle

Perennial

Typical Size

20-25 ft. tall
8-10 ft. wide

Tolerant of

Deer, Drought, Occasional Flooding, Salt Exposure

Propagation

By seed, By cutting

Plant Propagation Notes

Cold moist stratify seed for 60-90 days. Cuttings can be taken from semi-hardwood or softwood.

Plant Planting Notes

Provide up to 10 ft spacing. Easily transplanted when young. Reseeds readily.

Plants/Diseases

My drop leaves after transplant or extreme cold snaps.

Wildlife Benefits

Nectar/pollen source for pollinating insects, Host plant for butterfly larvae, Fruit/seeds for birds

Leaves

Leaves alternate, oblanceolate to obovate with serrate margins.

Flowers

Tiny green to yellow flowers on catkins. Fragrant. Dioecious.

Fruit

Dark blue drupes that look gray to white due to waxy coating.

Bark

Light gray, smooth.

Toxicity

No known toxicity.

Edibility

Leaves can be used as substitute for bay leaves.

Ethnobotanical Use

The waxy coating on the fruits was once used to make candles.

USDA Hardiness Zones

7, 8, 9, 10

Light Exposure

Full Sun, Part Sun/Shade

Soil Moisture

Dry, Medium, Moist

Soil Drainage

Well-drained

Soil pH

Acidic (less than 6.0)

Native in South Carolina?

Yes

Plant Native Habitat

Wet to moist habitats such as pocosins, brackish marshes, interdune swales.

Global Conservation Status (NatureServe)

Secure (G5)

Federal Conservation Status (USFWS)

Not Listed

Distribution Notes

Common in the South Carolina coastal plain and sandhills. Introduced to the piedmont. Absent from the mountains.