Southern Wax Myrtle - Morella cerifera (Myrica cerifera)

Southern Wax Myrtle - Morella cerifera (Myrica cerifera) - Wax myrtles suit the bill for multitudes of landscape specifications. Need a plant for erosion, wetland areas. commercial landscapes, hedging, screening, or wildlife? In this video we examine the purposes for this native plant, while highlighting the cultural requirements.
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[@thefilmpoets]

These things are great for us introverts that don’t want to see our neighbors. I have a green wall of them growing right now 😊

[@gamera2020]

How far apart did you plant them? I'm trying to block light encroachmen from a neighbor (I know it will take a couple of years) and was looking to use these.

[@thefilmpoets]

@@gamera2020 we did about 8’ apart.

[@LeanneD4]

I absolutely love my Wax Myrtles! They are the fastest growing shrub I've grown. Mine went from small 2 gal to 10+ ft tall and 6 feet wide in less than 2 years! I love the fragrant foliage, and birds love the berries and hanging out in their branches. I have one of mine in the driest, craggiest soil imaginable. Maybe watered it once or twice the summer after planting, during a prolonged dry period. It's totally no-fuss and a beautiful evergreen shrub/tree.

[@Boogra]

What growing region do you live in? I'm in the Nashville area. I'm wondering how they will do in the south where we occasionally get pretty cold conditions.

[@LeanneD4]

@@Boogra I’m in Georgia. I believe it is hardy only to zone 7.

[@Boogra]

@@LeanneD4 This is the bush that we're going to plant in our yard. I'm actually excited to see this grow out next year. Thanks!

[@braukorpshomebrew6039]

I live outside of Wilmington, NC. My property is COVERED with these - they are tall, established, and native bees love the flowers, too!

[@rachelsgarden]

I love Wax Myrtles. The first one I ever saw was in OK leftover from a nursery going out of business. Planted during the summer & it developed some leaf issues that resulted in entire stems dying back. Best guess was leaf scorch from full sun & planting in our lawn (now know not to do this). It then survived -18 degrees & 10” of snow, having a bit of a brown hue to the leaves in winter. Happy green plant in the cool, wet spring. They seem to thrive in cool, wet weather and appreciate consistent moisture first year. In the beginning, not a plant it and forget it like a viburnum nudam. Don’s dwarf is a nice compact variety. I’ve noticed they root in quickly and develop very strong stems/trunks near the base. Makes it harder to stake a leaning young plant haha.

[@lynnf.6649]

Wax Myrtles are super fast growing here in the South… and purported to repel mosquitoes… I really enjoy these videos! Mr. Putnam is a wealth of information.

[@gipnor]

We live near a state park and our neighborhood is overrun with deer. If they are hungry enough deer will eat anything... but they leave our wax myrtles alone. They will gobble up a Nellie Stevens holly or and Emily Bruner holly as if they're an option in a salad buffet, but they don't care for the wax myrtles at all!

[@Aliasjax]

Among my favorite natives. They look great limbed-up and kept around 12'. Only (minor, imo) downside is they will colonize. The starts are easy to control--I just yank 'em out out of the ground--but this is a regular maintenance chore.

[@ConstantGardener-q9q]

So glad to see you focusing more on native plants! I planted mine at the top of a slope for their nitrogen fixing properties

[@666rohith]

"So what are you waiting for .. ? Even YOU can grow our great native southern wax myrtle ! "

[@nellyhidalgo7349]

😂😂😂 classic!!

[@rosalynmiller6392]

This is the plant I've been looking for. I have a slope in my back yard and it is just on the border of what is considered to be a flood area and I need privacy from the neighbors behind me. It will grow as tall as I need it. Thanks for the video.

[@rinnie78]

Just discovered I naturally have these on my wild marsh area! Fun side note: the local zoo contacted my office asking if they could prune the wax Myrtle by our building. Apparently the zoo animals love to munch on it!

[@kso808]

Seems like an ideal plant, with its adaptability and as an erosion deterrent!

[@DABOI821]

Bought 1 in the spring and it has grown a lot. Thanks Jim for the advice.

[@EagleArrow]

We planted Wax Myrtles to shade our A/C unit and cover the electric boxes/cable boxes all near each other on that side and along the sides of our yard Birds love living in them, the leaves smell of mint and we hardly have mosquitoes. They grew super fast so stay on top of them, as our has reached our roof. Easy plant to grow. We leave it alone except trimming. We have terrible sandy/clay soil in coastal Virginia and these are very hearty.

[@esli44]

perfect! I was looking into these for screening in my backyard and had wondered if I could make them into small trees. I also like their smell!

[@sdmassagesheal]

Hi - Great video! I have 5 of them to use as privacy. They are very sparse/leggy, especially at the foot of the plants. Any suggestions? I’ve had them for a year. Thanks!

[@cherylbuford4969]

You are a wealth of information. I'm in the process of beautifying my 2 acre homestead and I get the best information from you about plants. It seems that for every spot in the landscape I can find a video on just the right plant to put there. I'm in zone 8b in SW GA where we deal with a lot of heat and humidity in summer, but it's relatively mild in winter. Thank you for all the information you provide. You are my plant hero.

[@TheDukestriker]

Youre the best Jim! Love your content. From way back in Clayton I’ve been a fan!

[@GorillasAndGardens]

I just purchased seeds! They’re in my fridge waiting a few months until I start them with the rest of my veggies and flowers in spring. A farm behind my house sold to an urban developer and I need screening fast! I need 40 growing well at least. Texas 8b, or now it’s 9a. I have daikon radishes growing in the spots now to help break up the soil until mid-March. Then, Marigolds for 6 months or so after that. I hope the wax Myrtle’s can be transplanted next fall. 🤞🤞🤞 Thank you for all of your information!

[@curtisbaird77]

Can you share how to propagate them? Cuttings? Seeds?

[@passepartoot]

A VERY common wild plant here in the coastal plain. I don't know why nurseries sell them -- if you want one, all you need do is clear a patch of soil and stand back. There's good chance you'll find wax myrtle seedlings sprouted there in a few weeks. People here swear by this plants mosquito repellent properties.

[@judymckerrow6720]

Thanks Jim.🌸💚🙃

[@CommandersWife]

Thanks, great insight. Would like to have heard about propagating it, too

[@aaronstuder9025]

great video and info thank you. do you feel this would be a good hedge along a fence in san diego coastal 10A I think I appreciate your work!

[@p.hightower5383]

My neighbor has these in the back corners of her yard and it seems to be where the hummingbirds prefer to rest and perch thru ought the day.

[@donnajoy6951]

So glad I found this particular video since I have 2 in my East Gaden here in North Dallas. The tree are not green as in your video and wonder (too late now) but could I add some iron to them?😩

[@nancylangley6992]

Thank you..gracias mil

[@Lily_of_the_Forest]

How wide/far do their roots spread? How wide does the shrub get?

[@mattwolice9741]

Great video, Jim! HELP please. I planted wax myrtles here in South Jersey a little over a year ago when they were about a foot tall. Now they’re about 5 feet tall! But recently grass and weeds have grown within the myrtles where I can’t weed whack because the trunks are still thin, so I pulled out all the weeds and grass by hand and put a lot of mulch down to try to suppress weed growth. Are wax myrtles tolerant of heavy mulching? I’m not sure what else to do to prevent grass and weeds from rooting in and taking over nutrients from the myrtles.

[@EverydayKindaGuy]

There's like zero overlap between the southern and northern where zone is concerned. And here I sit on the edge of 7a wondering which way to go... 😅

[@gamera2020]

I'm curious about the 4-5 wax myrtles Jim planted for a privacy screen 5 years ago on his channel. Would love an update.

[@youtubeKathy]

I'm curious about these in texas, will they burst into flame if it gets too hot and dry?

[@youtubeKathy]

I just planted two… the deer nibble at them I notice but today when I went out the deer striped one bare!!! Left the branches and leaves on the ground. I just dug 21 holes thinking to do a privacy hedge. I’m hoping they’ll leave them alone I’ve established? So confused as everything says deer don’t like them.

[@rudianger123]

How do you propagate Wax Myrtles? Dying to know...thx!

[@markmiddleton4554]

Years ago when I lived in Marietta Georgia they had some in a shopping center parking lot and during the month of June I smelled a sweet scent when they were in bloom, but I haven’t smelled that fragrance on any more of them. Do they smell sweet when they bloom or was it perhaps something else wafting through the air. Noone seems to talk about the sweet fragrance of the inconspicuous bloom?

[@francespowell6480]

I love my wax myrtle, but it is spreading where I don't want it. What is the best way to keep it from spreading?

[@sirql8]

Can i maintain them in the 3 ft range ?

[@youtubeKathy]

There is a dwarf version.

[@Jpatmeadowbrook]

Another bush to purchase? Thanks.

[@alliphil1]

Where are they for sale?

[@sirql8]

I found mine as seedlings on amazon and they are doing well.