Myrica cerifera: Uses (Ethnobotany)
The fruits of this species have been used for many years to make bayberry candles, soaps, and sealing wax. This plant was also used to make medicine by Native Americans.
Plant Profile: Myrica cerifera
Taxonomy: Myrica ceriferaNames
Bayberry, Candleberry, Dwarf Bayberry, Dwarf Wax-myrtle, Eastern Bayberry, Southern Bayberry, Southern Waxmyrtle, Southern Wax Myrtle, Tallow Shrub, Waxmyrtle, Wax Myrtle
Phonetic Spelling:mur-EYE-kuh sur-IFF-ur-uh
Genus:Myrica
Species:cerifera
Family:Myricaceae
Wax Myrtle is an evergreen tree that typically reaches heights of 20 to 25 feet, although it often remains shorter. Its leaves are light olive green, arranged alternately, with a serrated edge and emit a spicy, aromatic scent when crushed. Both sides of the leaves feature yellow resin dots. The bark is thin, smooth, and ranges in color from gray-brown to nearly white. In the spring, slender, cylindrical flowers develop, with both male and female blooms present. This small tree produces bluish-white drupes that grow in clusters on short stalks and persist through the winter. Some populations are dioecious, meaning only female trees bear fruit, while others are monoecious.
Wax Myrtle thrives in USDA Zones 7-10 and is easily cultivated in average to wet soils, preferring full sun to partial shade. Indigenous to the marshes, forests, swamps, and both fresh and brackish streams of North Carolina, it is particularly beneficial in wetland restoration projects, shady areas, or along banks for erosion control. Initially, it requires consistent moisture, but once established, it adapts well to a variety of soil conditions, from waterlogged regions to dry uplands. This shrub is resilient against high winds, waterlogged soils, shade, poor soil quality, and salt spray, making it suitable for coastal environments. Its tolerance to saline conditions and urban settings allows it to thrive in areas near salted roads during winter. However, it may experience leaf drop during acclimatization or after exposure to extreme cold. It can be an interesting addition to the corner of a large herb garden and is a good choice for stream or pond edges where flooding or drought may occur. Additionally, it can be pruned to create an attractive small tree by removing lower limbs.
These shrubs are predominantly dioecious, necessitating both male and female plants for optimal berry production. They have the ability to fix atmospheric nitrogen, aiding their survival in nutrient-poor soils. Under ideal growing conditions, they may sucker and form extensive colonies. While similar to northern bayberry (M. pennsylvanica), Wax Myrtle is a southern evergreen species that thrives in warmer climates.
Fire Risk: In certain regions, these shrubs pose a potential fire hazard due to the flammable aromatic compounds found in their leaves, stems, and branches. Therefore, it is advisable not to plant them within the defensible space around your home. Opt for plants with low flammability ratings for areas closest to your residence.
Insects, Diseases, or Other Plant Problems: Wax Myrtle generally faces no significant insect or disease issues. However, leaf browning can occur during harsh winters, and it is important to monitor for leaf anthracnose and leaf mosaic.
Quick Identification Tips:
Myrica cerifera Feature Summary
Tags
#fragrant
#evergreen
#deciduous
#small spaces
#drought tolerant
#wildlife plant
#showy
#native tree
#moths
#fragrant leaves
#honey bees
#aromatic
#nectar plant
#native shrub
#salt tolerant
#cover plant
#winter interest
#playground
#hedges
#wet sites
#food source
#highly beneficial coastal plants
#salt spray tolerant
#high flammability
#NC native
#buffer
#deer resistant
#fire risk
#children's garden
#native garden
#non-showy flowers
#coastal plants
#fragrant fruits
#screening
#fantz
#poor soils tolerant
#larval host plant
#cover
#food source fall
#food source herbage
#coastal FAC
#Piedmont Mountains FAC
#urban conditions tolerant
#wet soils tolerant
#fruits
#bird friendly
#mammals
#food source soft mast fruit
#butterfly friendly
#flood tolerant
#pollinator garden
#bee friendly
#audubon
#red-banded hairstreak butterfly
Similar Plants
Myrica cerifera is often confused with:
Myrica cerifera Feature Summary
Attributes
The fruits of this species have been used for many years to make bayberry candles, soaps, and sealing wax. This plant was also used to make medicine by Native Americans.
New Jersey to Central America, Caribbean, NC
Waxmyrtle provides excellent winter and extreme weather cover. It is a host plant for the Red-Banded Hairstreak butterfly. Flowers provide an excellent source of nectar for honeybees and butterflies. The fruits are eaten by birds, especially yellow-rumped warbler (which are very efficient at digesting the waxy fruits) in the fall and winter.
Waxmyrtle is highly salt and wind tolerant, and highly resistant to deer damage.
Woody
Fragrance
Wildlife Food Source
Buffer
Screening
Wildlife Larval Host
high flammability
Fruit
Pollinated female flowers are followed by small attractive sessile clusters (2-6 fruits on previous season's growth) of tiny, globose, gray fruits that are each surrounded by an aromatic waxy substance. The fruits display from August through October. Birds eat the fruits in fall and winter, thus helping the plants to naturalize by disbursing the seed.
Drupe
Gray/Silver
Blue
White
Fragrant
Showy
Long-lasting
< 1 inch
< 1 inch
Flowers
The flowers of the Waxmyrtle are fragrant but non-showy, with only the flowers on male plants (catkins to 1” long) displaying some color (a drab yellowish-green). They are apetalous. Male flowers have multiple stames, while female flowers are a one-celled ovary. Flowers bloom in April.
Gold/Yellow
Green
Catkin
Fragrant
Spring
< 1 inch
Leaves
The leaves of the waxmyrtle are alternate, simple, glossy, aromatic, narrowly obovate or oblanceolate, serrate at the apex, attenuate, olive green leaves (to 3-5” long) which are glabrous above and are dotted with tiny yellow resin glands on the bottom. The leaves, particularly the new growth, emit the distinctive bayberry candle fragrance when crushed.
Deciduous
Broadleaf Evergreen
Semi-evergreen
Green
Simple
Alternate
Obovate
Oblanceolate
Serrate
3-6 inches
Glossy
Leathery
Rough
Fragrant
Long-lasting
Good Dried
Good Cut
< 1 inch
Bark
Grey-brown, almost white, with a thin, smooth surface.
Light Gray
Light Brown
White
Smooth
Stem
Stems are rounded or angular and resin-dotted when young.
Round
Whole Plant Traits
Shrub
Tree
Native Plant
Deciduous
Broadleaf Evergreen
Semi-evergreen
Multi-stemmed
Multi-trunked
Rounded
Erect
Dense
Spreading
Irregular
Rapid
Fine
Cultural Conditions
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Acid (<6.0)
Good Drainage
Moist
Occasionally Wet
Occasionally Dry
Occasional Flooding
6-feet-12 feet
Coastal
7a
7b
8b
8a
9a
9b
10a
10b
11a
11b
Sand
Landscape
Drought Tolerant Garden
Butterfly Garden
Pollinator Garden
Children's Garden
Winter Garden
Native Garden
Water Garden
Hedge
Screen/Privacy
Small Tree
Barrier
Drought
Deer
Wet Soil
Urban Conditions
Wind
Salt
Poor Soil
Recreational Play Area
Woodland
Naturalized Area
Small Space
Coastal
Riparian
Pond
Butterflies
Pollinators
Songbirds
Small Mammals
Myrica cerifera Image Gallery
Myrica cerifera Attributes
Myrica cerifera: Country Or Region Of Origin
New Jersey to Central America, Caribbean, NC
Myrica cerifera: Wildlife Value
Waxmyrtle provides excellent winter and extreme weather cover. It is a host plant for the Red-Banded Hairstreak butterfly. Flowers provide an excellent source of nectar for honeybees and butterflies. The fruits are eaten by birds, especially yellow-rumped warbler (which are very efficient at digesting the waxy fruits) in the fall and winter.
Myrica cerifera: Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems)
Waxmyrtle is highly salt and wind tolerant, and highly resistant to deer damage.
Myrica cerifera: Life Cycle
Annual
Biennial
Bulb
Perennial
Woody
Myrica cerifera: Play Value
Attractive Flowers
Attracts Pollinators
Buffer
Colorful
Defines Paths
Easy to Grow
Edible fruit
Fragrance
Pieces Used in Games
Screening
Shade
Sound
Textural
Wildlife Cover/Habitat
Wildlife Food Source
Wildlife Larval Host
Wildlife Nesting
Wind Break
Wind Shimmer
Myrica cerifera: Fire Risk Rating
extreme flammability
high flammability
low flammability
medium flammability
Myrica cerifera Fruit
Myrica cerifera: Fruit Description
Pollinated female flowers are followed by small attractive sessile clusters (2-6 fruits on previous season's growth) of tiny, globose, gray fruits that are each surrounded by an aromatic waxy substance. The fruits display from August through October. Birds eat the fruits in fall and winter, thus helping the plants to naturalize by disbursing the seed.
Myrica cerifera: Fruit Type
Achene
Aggregate
Berry
Capsule
Caryopsis
Drupe
Follicle
Legume
Nut
Pome
Samara
Schizocarp
Siliqua
Myrica cerifera: Fruit Color
Blue
Gray/Silver
White
Myrica cerifera: Fruit Value To Gardener
Edible
Fragrant
Good Cut
Good Dried
Long Bloom Season
Long-lasting
Showy
Myrica cerifera: Display/Harvest Time
Fall
Spring
Summer
Winter
Myrica cerifera: Fruit Length
< 1 inch
1-3 inches
> 3 inches
Myrica cerifera: Fruit Width
< 1 inch
1-3 inches
> 3 inches
Myrica cerifera Flowers
Myrica cerifera: Flower Description
The flowers of the Waxmyrtle are fragrant but non-showy, with only the flowers on male plants (catkins to 1” long) displaying some color (a drab yellowish-green). They are apetalous. Male flowers have multiple stames, while female flowers are a one-celled ovary. Flowers bloom in April.
Myrica cerifera: Flower Color
Gold/Yellow
Green
Myrica cerifera: Flower Inflorescence
Catkin
Corymb
Cyme
Head
Insignificant
Panicle
Raceme
Solitary
Spadix
Spike
Umbel
Myrica cerifera: Flower Value To Gardener
Edible
Fragrant
Good Cut
Good Dried
Long Bloom Season
Long-lasting
Showy
Myrica cerifera: Flower Bloom Time
Winter
Spring
Summer
Fall
Myrica cerifera: Flower Size
1-3 inches
3-6 inches
< 1 inch
> 6 inches
Myrica cerifera Leaves
Myrica cerifera: Leaf Description
The leaves of the waxmyrtle are alternate, simple, glossy, aromatic, narrowly obovate or oblanceolate, serrate at the apex, attenuate, olive green leaves (to 3-5” long) which are glabrous above and are dotted with tiny yellow resin glands on the bottom. The leaves, particularly the new growth, emit the distinctive bayberry candle fragrance when crushed.
Myrica cerifera: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics
Broadleaf Evergreen
Deciduous
Needled Evergreen
Semi-evergreen
Myrica cerifera: Leaf Color
Green
Myrica cerifera: Leaf Type
Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
Fronds
Needles
Sheath
Simple
Myrica cerifera: Leaf Arrangement
Alternate
Opposite
Other/more complex
Rosulate
Whorled
Myrica cerifera: Leaf Shape
Acicular
Auriculate
Cordate
Cuneate
Deltoid
Elliptical
Filiform
Lanceolate
Linear
Oblanceolate
Oblong
Obovate
Obtuse
Orbicular
Ovate
Palmasect
Palmatifid
Peltate
Pinnatifid
Pinnatisect
Reniform
Rhomboidal
Spatulate
Subcordate
Subulate
Myrica cerifera: Leaf Margin
Crenate
Crenulate
Dentate
Denticulate
Doubly Crenate
Doubly Dentate
Doubly Serrate
Entire
Lobed
Serrate
Sinuate
Undulate
Myrica cerifera: Hairs Present
No
Yes
Myrica cerifera: Leaf Length
< 1 inch
1-3 inches
3-6 inches
> 6 inches
Myrica cerifera: Leaf Feel
Fleshy
Glossy
Leathery
Papery
Prickly
Rough
Rubbery
Slippery
Smooth
Soft
Velvety
Waxy
Myrica cerifera: Leaf Value To Gardener
Edible
Fragrant
Good Cut
Good Dried
Long-lasting
Showy
Myrica cerifera: Leaf Width
< 1 inch
1-3 inches
3-6 inches
> 6 inches
Myrica cerifera Bark
Myrica cerifera: Bark Description
Grey-brown, almost white, with a thin, smooth surface.
Myrica cerifera: Bark Color
Light Brown
Light Gray
White
Myrica cerifera: Surface/Attachment
Bumpy
Exfoliating
Fissured
Furrowed
Lenticels
Papery
Patchy
Peeling
Ridges
Scaly
Shaggy
Shiny
Shredding
Smooth
Spongy
Myrica cerifera Stem
Myrica cerifera: Stem Description
Stems are rounded or angular and resin-dotted when young.
Myrica cerifera: Stem Is Aromatic
No
Yes
Myrica cerifera: Stem Cross Section
Angular
Oval
Round
Square
Myrica cerifera Whole Plant Traits
Myrica cerifera: Plant Type
Annual
Bulb
Carnivorous
Edible
Epiphyte
Fern
Ground Cover
Herb
Herbaceous Perennial
Houseplant
Mushroom
Native Plant
Ornamental Grasses and Sedges
Perennial
Poisonous
Rose
Shrub
Succulent
Tree
Turfgrass
Vegetable
Vine
Water Plant
Weed
Wildflower
Myrica cerifera: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics
Broadleaf Evergreen
Deciduous
Needled Evergreen
Semi-evergreen
Myrica cerifera: Habit/Form
Arching
Ascending
Broad
Cascading
Climbing
Clumping
Columnar
Conical
Creeping
Dense
Erect
Horizontal
Irregular
Mounding
Multi-stemmed
Multi-trunked
Open
Oval
Prostrate
Pyramidal
Rounded
Spreading
Vase
Weeping
Myrica cerifera: Growth Rate
Slow
Medium
Rapid
Myrica cerifera: Texture
Fine
Medium
Coarse
Myrica cerifera Cultural Conditions
Myrica cerifera: Light
Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight)
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Myrica cerifera: Soil pH
Acid (<6.0)
Alkaline (>8.0)
Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Myrica cerifera: Soil Drainage
Frequent Standing Water
Good Drainage
Moist
Occasional Flooding
Occasionally Dry
Occasionally Wet
Very Dry
Myrica cerifera: Available Space To Plant
12 inches-3 feet
12-24 feet
24-60 feet
3 feet-6 feet
6-feet-12 feet
Less than 12 inches
more than 60 feet
Myrica cerifera: NC Region
Coastal
Mountains
Piedmont
Myrica cerifera: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone
10a
10b
11a
11b
7a
7b
8a
8b
9a
9b
Myrica cerifera: Soil Texture
Clay
High Organic Matter
Loam (Silt)
Sand
Shallow Rocky
Myrica cerifera Landscape
Myrica cerifera: Landscape Theme
Asian Garden
Butterfly Garden
Children's Garden
Cottage Garden
Cutting Garden
Drought Tolerant Garden
Edible Garden
English Garden
Fairy Garden
Garden for the Blind
Native Garden
Nighttime Garden
Pollinator Garden
Rain Garden
Rock Garden
Shade Garden
Water Garden
Winter Garden
Myrica cerifera: Design Feature
Accent
Barrier
Border
Flowering Tree
Foundation Planting
Hedge
Mass Planting
Screen/Privacy
Security
Shade Tree
Small groups
Small Tree
Specimen
Street Tree
Understory Tree
Myrica cerifera: Resistance To Challenges
Black Walnut
Compaction
Deer
Diseases
Drought
Dry Soil
Erosion
Fire
Foot Traffic
Heat
Heavy Shade
Humidity
Insect Pests
Pollution
Poor Soil
Rabbits
Salt
Slugs
Squirrels
Storm damage
Urban Conditions
Voles
Wet Soil
Wind
Myrica cerifera: Landscape Location
Coastal
Container
Hanging Baskets
Houseplants
Lawn
Meadow
Naturalized Area
Near Septic
Patio
Pond
Pool/Hardscape
Recreational Play Area
Riparian
Rock Wall
Slope/Bank
Small Space
Vertical Spaces
Walkways
Woodland
Myrica cerifera: Attracts
Bats
Bees
Butterflies
Frogs
Hummingbirds
Moths
Pollinators
Predatory Insects
Reptiles
Small Mammals
Songbirds
Specialized Bees
