If you ’re looking for a fast - grow , low - maintenance evergreen bush to add to your landscape , look no further than the Wax Myrtle . This various bush is a great choice for landscape gardening in USDA Zones 7 - 10 , as it can abide heat energy , drought , salt and even dry shade !
The Wax Myrtle grows rapidly up to 20 feet marvelous and feature a multi - trunked structure with light olive - green leaf and a savory fragrance . The distaff plants carry pallid blasphemous Charles Edward Berry in the wintertime calendar month that serve Colonial Americans as an alternative source of wax for candles .
The Wax Myrtle is also no upkeep once established in the primer . It ’s a bang-up choice for make screens or loose hedging and its attractive leaf and berries make it attractive to birds who use it both as food and shelter .
If you live in an area where Wax Myrtles can be grow , they ’re an excellent option for those look for fast growth but do n’t have sentence or energy to pass on steady care or pruning . The plant is hardy enough to survive extreme conditions while sill adding dish to your landscape .
Maximum Height of a Wax Myrtle
Wax Vinca minor , or southern bayberry , is an evergreen plant bush that can reach a full height of 20 feet . It has multiple trunks and wispy branches that circularise outwards , and its foliage is abstemious olive - greenness in color with a spicy fragrance . distaff industrial plant produce sick blue berries in the winter . Wax myrtle can be grown in various climates and ground types , thugh it typically rise best in moist , acidic soil with partial to full sun photo .
Growth Rate of Wax Myrtle
The Wax Myrtle is one of the fastest - growing privacy hedges , with an average growth rate of 3 to 5 feet per class . Once established , it ask lilliputian maintenance and is extremely hardy , abide drouth , heat , and Strategic Arms Limitation Talks . It is perfect for thse front for a tight - growing plant to make a natural privacy roadblock .
The Hardiness of Wax Myrtle
The Waxmyrtle is a hardy shrub , capable of thriving in USDA zone 7 - 10 with simplicity . It is well suited to growing in a mixed bag of soil types , from average to stiff soils , and requires full sun or part wraith for optimal outgrowth . In fact , it can even tolerate dry wraith ! With its splendid hardihood and adaptability , the Waxmyrtle is an fantabulous choice for gardeners lookig for a dependable source of evergreen leaf and little blanched flowers .
The Benefits of Wax Myrtle
Wax myrtles are a great choice for tot verdure and texture to any landscape . They can be used as an informal hedge or screen door , planted aong roadsides , or as an decorative idiom in garden . The waxy berries of wax Vinca minor were used for take candles in Colonial times , and the plant ’s foliage and berries have a pleasant scent that attracts birds for food and shelter . Wax Vinca minor are also drouth - tolerant , making them easy to keep with minimal tearing .
The Invasiveness of Wax Myrtle Roots
No , wax Vinca minor do not have incursive roots . In fact , their root systems are quite compendious and non - incursive – permit them to thrive in a variety of landscapes without causing damage to nearby structure or pathway . Wax myrtles can acquire up to 15 feet improbable , but their antecedent wo n’t spread out more than 10 - 15 feet from the trunk . This means that if you engraft your wax myrtle at least 10 feet off from your house , it should not caue any damage to your groundwork or other structures .
Does Wax Myrtle Remain Evergreen Throughout the Year?
Yes , wax myrtle is an evergreen plant shrub or Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree that stay green all year . It has small-scale glossy leafage that are uually a lightsome dark-green shade and they give out a fragrant look when crushed . Wax myrtle are also drought - tolerant and have few plague or disease government issue , nominate them an ideal choice for landscape painting .
When to Plant Wax Myrtle
Wax Vinca minor should be planted in the winter months , preferably between December 1st and January 31st . This gives the tree diagram enough clock time to become established before the estrus of summer arrives . If planting in previous wintertime , await unil after any Robert Frost has passed to minify the chance of scathe to the tree .
To constitute a wax myrtle , start by selecting an arena that receives full sun and is well - draining . Dig a pickle that is twice as wide as the root musket ball , but not rich . Place the root musket ball in the pickle and fill with soil . verify that the top of the beginning ball is unwavering with the surface of the soil . Gently pat down around it to remove any air pocket . Water thoroughly after set , and proceed to irrigate regularly throughout its growing time of year for optimal wellness .
Difference Between Wax Myrtle and Southern Wax Myrtle
southerly waxmyrtle ( Myrica cerifera ) is a specie of waxmyrtle native to the southeastern United States . It is a lowly evergreen bush or Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree that typically grows up to 20 foot tall and has multiple , twisted trunks . Its barque is clear gray and bland and its leaves are olive greenish . The female plant bring forth clusters of grey-haired - gamey , waxy berry whch attract wildlife such as birds and butterflies . By contrast , wax myrtle ( Morella cerifera ) is another species of waxmyrtle found in North America , generally growing up to 15 feet magniloquent with a single trunk . Its barque is furrowed with light gray fissures . Its leaves are dark green and its berries are blackish - purpleness .
Cold Hardiness of Wax Myrtles
Yes , wax myrtle ( Morella cerifera ) are stale audacious and can tolerate temperature down to 0 arcdegree F. This evergreen shrub is native to the southeastern United States and thrive in USDA Hardiness Zones 7 - 10 . In area outside of thse zones , wax myrtles may ask special protection from cold winter temperatures .
Do Wax Myrtles Lose Their Leaves in Winter?
Yes , wax myrtles ( Myrica cerifera ) do lose their leaves in the winter . This deciduous to semi - evergreen plant is aboriginal to the east coast of the United States , ranging from New Jersey to Florida and west to Texas . While it can be tolerant of cold temperature , at lower temperatures wax myrtles will lose most or all of its farewell during the winter calendar month . Its tight relative , northern bayberry ( Myrica or Morella pensylvanica ) , is sometimes seen in Virginia and also loses its foliage in the winter .
The Lifespan of Wax Myrtles
Wax myrtles typically have a lifespan of about 30 years . While their lifespan may vary depending on the surroundings and care they receive , wax myrtles are generally knon to be a long - endure bush that can provide an attractive privacy roadblock in landscapes . With right planting and maintenance , wax myrtle can thrive and provide a lush hedge for many year .
Are Wax Myrtles a Fire Risk?
Yes , wax myrtles ( Myrica cerifera ) can be a likely ardour hazard . The stem and leaf of the works contin large quantity of combustible aromatic compounds , make it flammable if display to glint or open flames . This is further exacerbated by the presence of wax on the berries , which can increase their flammability . As such , care should be taken when implant and handling wax Vinca minor , peculiarly in area that are prone to wildfire risks . It is also of import to remark that burning these plants can bring about a unattackable smoke that can be an irritant to skin , eyes and lung .
Does Wax Myrtle Provide Mosquito Repellent Benefits?
Yes , wax myrtle does repel mosquitoes . Wax myrtle is native to the American southeastward and is traditionally planted as an dirt ball repellant . The mien of wax Vinca minor shrubs is known to snub many types of insect , include mosquito . People have also been known to fray teir skin with crushed wax myrtle leave to keep mosquito away . study have found that the essential vegetable oil get in wax myrtle are in force in deterring mosquito , although more research is needed to determine its overall strength for this role .
Are Dogs Poisoned by Wax Myrtle?
No , wax Vinca minor is not toxic to dogs according to the ASPCA listing . This evergreen shrub can get into a pocket-sized tree and requires shade or partial shade as well as moist soil to thrive . It is not name in any of the other venomous plant databases or in the PollenLibrary.com database , so it is dependable for your pet to be around this bush .
Is Eating Wax Myrtle Fruit Safe?
Wax Vinca minor yield is technically eatable , but it has very little edible flesh and the timbre is poor . The fruit is about 3 mm in diam and conains a bombastic seed . While it can be eaten , it does not have an especially pleasant taste , so it is not commonly eaten for that role . However , the leaves and berries are used as a food flavoring , making an aromatic and attractive replacement for bay leaves that can be used in soups and stews .
Conclusion
The Wax Myrtle is a versatile evergreen shrub that is a great pick for gardeners look for a fast - growing hedgerow or concealment screen . It is dauntless and easy to maintain , as well as bing attractive and fragrant . Its light olive - green foliage has a spicy fragrance and female plants acquire pale blue Chuck Berry in the wintertime , which attracts birds to its branches . The Wax Myrtle ’s berries were also used in Colonial time to make candles , demonstrating its long history of usefulness . All in all , the Wax Myrtle is an fantabulous option for any garden .
Caroline Bates
