Morella cerifera (Wax Myrtle)
Also known as Southern Wax Myrtle, Southern Bayberry.
Wax Myrtle is a multi-trunked, evergreen shrub, that can reach 20 ft. in height. The foliage is aromatic. Pale blue berries occur on female plants. It is shrub is also tolerant of high winds and salt spray. Wax Myrtles tend to sucker, sometimes forming colonies in optimum growing conditions.
Wax Myrtle prefers moist, acid soils but is adaptable to other conditions, including wet sites with poor drainage. Requires regular moisture to get established. Once established it is reasonably drought-tolerant and can withstand periodical flooding as well.
Wax Myrtle can be used in woodland gardens or shrub borders, as a screen or informal hedge, wetland gardens, habitat restoration or on a bank for erosion control. It can be grown as full shrub or limbed up to look like multi-trunk tree.
AT A GLANCE
| Texas native | Yes |
| Water use | High |
| Sun exposure | Sun to part shade |
| Mature height | 10-20 ft |
| Mature width | 10-12 ft |
| Evergreen | Yes |
| Attracts | Birds, butterflies |
| Host plant | Banded Hairstreak and Red-Banded Hairstreak butterflies |
DISTRIBUTION MAPS
 Present in state |
 Present in county and native |
 Native to North America, but adventive & escaped in state |
 Not present in state |
 Present and rare, native in county |
 Previously present, now extinct |
 Questionable presence (cross-hatched, regardless of color) |