Wax Myrtle

Morella cerifera (L.) Small

Bayberry family

Plant Type

Tree, Subshrub, Shrub

Life Cycle

Perennial

Mature Height

10.0 feet

Spread

5.0 feet

Flower Color

White

Bloom Time

Spring

Growing Conditions

Light

Shade Tolerance Intolerant

Water

Water Use High

Drought Tolerance Medium

Flood Tolerance Medium

Soil

Soil Types Clay, Loam, Sand

CaCO3 Tolerance Medium

Fertility Need Low

Stress Tolerance

Fire Tolerance Low

Salt Tolerance Medium

Climate

pH Range 5.4 – 9.1

Frost-Free Days 155 days

Precipitation 34 – 60 in

Ecosystem & Wildlife

Pollinators Native Bees; Larval Host (Butterfly); Larval Host (Moth); Wind

Larval Host Acrobasis cirroferella, Alarodia slossoniae, Antheraea polyphemus polyphemus, Apatelodes torrefacta, Automeris io io, Caloptilia flavella, Calycopis cecrops, Cameraria obstrictella, Catocala badia, Catocala muliercula, Eacles imperialis, Hyalophora cecropia, Isa textula, Nemoria rubrolinearia, Phrudocentra centrifugaria, Rheumaptera hastata, Schizura apicalis, Schizura concinna, Sphinx gordius, Stigmella myricafoliella, Strepsicrates smithiana, Synanthedon scitula

Fall Color No

Evergreen Yes

Native Range

USA: Alabama, Arkansas, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, New Jersey, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Texas, Virginia
MEX: Mexico Central, Mexico Gulf, Mexico Northeast, Mexico Southeast, Mexico Southwest
USA+: Puerto Rico

Regional Native Status: L48 (N), HI (I), PR (N)

State-level native status is based on data available through Plants of the World Online. Regional Native Status comes from the USDA Plants Database. For more detailed native status information, please refer to BONAP.