![]() Plant in moist to average soil in partial to full sun and be sure to keep Wax Myrtle moist until it has a had a couple of months of establishment to become self sufficient. ![]() Birds from the smallest to larger species relish the tiny berry! It is salt air tolerant and able to tolerate short periods of salt water flooding. For birds it is a shelter plant and a source of food from the tiny waxy berries on the female plants. This is a common native plant that is popular in landscape because of its density and hardiness as a screening plant and it is great for attracting a diversity of birds. The light olive-green foliage has a very pleasant Bayberry fragrance. There both standard and dwarf types available. Caution: California Bay Laurel is the main host of Sudden Oak Death syndrome make sure to inquire about the source and the health of the stock when purchasing these plants.Wax Myrtle, Myrica cerifera, is a dense, multi-trunked, fast growing evergreen shrub or small tree. The leaves are extremely aromatic and can be used (in moderation) as a cooking herb. It can be grown in sun or shade and can be clipped into a hedge. It is a relatively slow growing, gumdrop shaped shrub to 25 ft (8m) high and wide, but may become a tree, to 75 ft. It is found near the southern Oregon Coast and in California. ![]() Other names include: Myrtle (Oregon, Pacific, Black, White, Yellow) Laurel (California, Coos Bay, Mountain) Bay (Laurel or Tree or Green Bay) Cinnamon Bush, Pepperwood, Spice Tree, California Sassafras or California Olive. WTU Herbarium Image Collection, Plants of Washington, Burke MuseumĮ-Flora BC, Electronic Atlas of the Flora of British ColumbiaĬalifornia Bay Laurel, Umbellularia californica, is another good evergreen for screening. Use by Wildlife: The fruit is eaten by many kinds of birds, most notably the “Myrtle” (Yellow-rumped) Warbler, but only in small quantities. Pale blue berries occur on female plants. Although the wood is reported to be heavy, very hard, strong, brittle and close-grained, this species is different than the Oregon Myrtlewood, Umbellularia californica, (AKA California Bay Laurel) used for artistic endeavors found in gift shops all along the Oregon coast. Wax Myrtle is a multi-trunked, evergreen shrub, that can reach 20 ft. The fertilized female flowers are followed. It is dioecious, with male and female catkins on separate plants. A gray-brown or maroon-purple dye may be obtained from the berries. Wax Myrtle is a densely branching, evergreen shrub. Use by People: Although Pacific Wax Myrtle is related to the Northern Bayberry, attempts at boiling the fruit to extract wax produces so little, to make it hardly worthwhile. Layering in the spring is the quickest method. Heel cuttings of half-ripe wood in July or August reportedly have fair to good success. Propagation: Seeds collected in fall should be abraded or soaked in warm water to remove the waxy coating they then require 3 months stratification at 40✯ (4✬). Wax Myrtle also is able to fix-nitrogen in association with the bacteria, Frankia sp., making this shrub especially useful for habitat restoration in soils with low fertility. Fast-growing, Morella cerifera (Southern Wax Myrtle) is a densely bushy, evergreen shrub or small tree with glossy, aromatic, oblanceolate, olive green leaves, 3-5 in. It is an ideal choice for coastal plantings due to its tolerance to salt spray. Several can be trimmed into a hedge or it can be mixed with other evergreens to create an informal screen. In the Landscape: The Pacific Wax Myrtle is our best native shrub for screening. The flowers are tiny, but the fruit is attractive in clusters of dark purple, bumpy berries. Wetland Designation: FACW, Facultative wetland, it usually occurs in wetlands but occasionally occurs in non-wetlands.ĭiagnostic Characters: The leaves of Pacific Wax Myrtle are a bright, glossy green with black dots, pleasantly aromatic, pointed at the tip, with occasional teeth along the margins. This is notably valuable in hot areas like Texas, New Mexico. Habitat: It flourishes near the coast, along streams and on sand dunes. Adding to its flexibility is the fact that wax myrtle is generally resistant to heat and drought. G rowth: It grows at a moderate rate to 10-30 feet (3-10m) tall and wide, growing the tallest away from fierce sea winds. Distribution of Pacific Wax Myrtle from USDA Plants Databaseĭistribution: Pacific Wax Myrtle is found along the Pacific coast from Gray’s Harbor, Washington to southern California, with an isolated population on Vancouver Island.
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