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Southern Wax Myrtle Hedge

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Planting & Care

Planting Instructions for Southern Wax Myrtle (Morella cerifera)

Site Selection and Soil Preparation:

  • Location: Choose a location with full sun to partial shade. Southern Wax Myrtle can tolerate a wide range of light conditions, but it will thrive best and produce denser foliage in full sun.
  • Soil: Southern Wax Myrtle prefers well-draining soil but is adaptable to various soil types, including sandy or clay soils. It tolerates wet areas, making it useful in rain gardens or near water features. Slightly acidic to neutral soil (pH 5.5-7.0) is ideal.
  • Spacing: If planting multiple Wax Myrtles as a hedge or screen, space them 6-10 feet apart, depending on how dense you want the planting.
  • Digging: Dig a hole twice as wide as the root ball but not deeper than the root ball itself. This will help encourage roots to spread horizontally in search of nutrients and water.

Planting:

  • Place the plant in the hole, ensuring the top of the root ball is slightly above soil level to prevent the plant from sinking and drowning in waterlogged soil.
  • Backfill the hole with the original soil, mixing in some compost if needed to improve soil structure and fertility.
  • Water thoroughly after planting to settle the soil around the roots.
  • Apply a 2-3 inch layer of mulch around the base, keeping it a few inches away from the trunk. Mulching helps retain moisture, regulate soil temperature, and suppress weeds.

Care Instructions

  1. Watering: Southern Wax Myrtle is drought-tolerant once established, but regular watering during the first year is essential to help establish deep roots. Water deeply once or twice a week during dry periods, ensuring the soil remains moist but not soggy.
  2. Fertilizing: Southern Wax Myrtle generally requires little to no fertilizing. However, if the soil is poor, you can apply a balanced, slow-release fertilizer (such as 10-10-10) in early spring to encourage growth. An annual top dressing of compost or organic matter can also help nourish the soil.
  3. Monitoring: Wax Myrtles are relatively low-maintenance, but keep an eye on the plant for signs of nutrient deficiencies (yellowing leaves) or overwatering (droopy, waterlogged appearance). It is generally resistant to pests and diseases.

Maintenance and Long-Term Care

  1. Pruning: Pruning is rarely needed, but light pruning can be done to shape the plant or remove any dead or damaged branches. If used as a hedge or screen, prune in late winter or early spring to maintain a compact, dense shape. Wax Myrtles can also be pruned as small trees or large shrubs, depending on your preference.
  • For hedge use, prune lightly in summer to maintain its size and shape, but avoid heavy pruning in fall to prevent damage from frost on new growth.
  1. Pest and Disease Control: Southern Wax Myrtle is typically pest and disease-resistant. Occasionally, it may attract scale insects or aphids, which can be treated with neem oil or insecticidal soap if infestations occur. Ensure good air circulation around the plant to prevent fungal diseases, especially in humid conditions.
  2. Winter Care: Southern Wax Myrtle is hardy in USDA zones 7-11. It can withstand brief cold snaps but may need protection in the northern range of its hardiness. In colder zones, a heavy layer of mulch around the base in late fall will help insulate the roots from freezing temperatures. If exposed to extreme cold, leaves may brown, but the plant usually recovers in spring.

Benefits and Seasonal Features

  • Fragrance: The aromatic leaves of Southern Wax Myrtle emit a pleasant, spicy fragrance when crushed, making it a wonderful addition to sensory gardens.
  • Wildlife Value: Southern Wax Myrtle produces small, waxy blue-gray berries in late fall and winter, which are an important food source for birds. This plant is ideal for wildlife gardens and naturalized areas.
  • Soil Stabilization: Wax Myrtle is an excellent choice for erosion control on slopes or areas with poor soil, as it spreads via suckers to form colonies and stabilize the ground.

Fast-growing privacy shrub: Reaches up to 20 feet tall, providing a dense screen or windbreak in a short time.

Fragrant, evergreen foliage: Aromatic leaves add year-round greenery and a pleasant scent to your garden.

Wildlife-friendly: Produces small berries that attract birds, making it a great addition to wildlife-friendly landscapes.

Description

Southern Wax Myrtle – Versatile, Fast-Growing Evergreen with Year-Round Beauty

The Southern Wax Myrtle (Myrica cerifera) is a hardy, fast-growing evergreen shrub that offers lush, fragrant foliage and excellent adaptability. Known for its versatility and low-maintenance care, this shrub is perfect for creating natural privacy screens, hedges, or as a foundation plant. With its attractive, aromatic leaves and ability to thrive in a variety of soil conditions, the Southern Wax Myrtle brings year-round beauty and practical benefits to any landscape.

Key Features of Southern Wax Myrtle:

  • Fast-Growing & Versatile: Grows quickly to 10-20 feet tall, ideal for privacy screens, hedges, or as a landscape accent.
  • Fragrant Evergreen Foliage: Features aromatic, olive-green leaves that stay vibrant throughout the year, providing year-round interest.
  • Adaptable & Hardy: Thrives in USDA Zones 7-11, tolerating heat, humidity, and poor soil conditions, including sandy and coastal areas.
  • Wildlife Friendly: Produces small blue berries that attract birds and provides excellent shelter for wildlife.
  • Low Maintenance: Requires minimal care once established, with excellent drought tolerance and the ability to grow in both sun and partial shade.

Fast-Growing for Quick Privacy and Screening

The Southern Wax Myrtle is known for its rapid growth, quickly reaching heights of 10-20 feet with a spread of 8-10 feet. This fast-growing nature makes it an ideal choice for homeowners looking to create natural privacy screens, windbreaks, or living fences in a short period of time. Whether planted along property lines, around patios, or to block out unwanted views, the Southern Wax Myrtle provides dense coverage and a lush backdrop that enhances your outdoor space.

Fragrant Evergreen Foliage for Year-Round Interest

One of the standout features of the Southern Wax Myrtle is its aromatic foliage. The olive-green, lance-shaped leaves emit a pleasant, spicy fragrance when crushed, adding an extra sensory dimension to your garden. Unlike deciduous shrubs that lose their leaves in winter, this evergreen keeps its vibrant green color year-round, providing continuous beauty and structure to your landscape through every season.

Adaptable to Various Conditions

The Southern Wax Myrtle is incredibly versatile and thrives in a wide range of growing conditions, making it perfect for coastal, sandy, or poor soils. It can tolerate salt spray, making it an excellent choice for coastal gardens, and it performs well in hot, humid climates. This shrub is also highly adaptable to different lighting conditions, thriving in both full sun and partial shade. Its ability to withstand challenging environments makes it a reliable choice for low-maintenance landscapes or areas with less-than-ideal growing conditions.

Wildlife Friendly with Attractive Berries

In addition to its ornamental value, the Southern Wax Myrtle is a wildlife-friendly shrub that provides food and shelter for birds and other wildlife. In fall, the plant produces small, waxy blue berries that attract various bird species, adding life and movement to your garden. The dense branches offer excellent nesting sites and protection for birds and small animals, making this shrub a great choice for gardeners who want to support local wildlife.

Low Maintenance and Drought Tolerant

Once established, the Southern Wax Myrtle is remarkably low-maintenance, requiring minimal watering and care. Its natural drought tolerance means it can thrive even in dry conditions, making it a fantastic option for homeowners seeking a worry-free, resilient plant. The shrub rarely needs pruning but can be shaped as needed to maintain its size and structure. Its resistance to pests and diseases makes it an easy addition to any garden.

Perfect for Privacy, Hedging, and Foundation Planting

With its dense growth and attractive foliage, the Southern Wax Myrtle is incredibly versatile in landscape design. It can be used as a large hedge or privacy screen, planted in mass along property lines, or used as a foundation plant to soften the edges of your home or garden beds. Its compact and bushy nature also makes it a great filler for larger garden spaces, while its fragrant leaves add texture and scent to your outdoor living areas.

Why Choose Nationwide Plants?

At Nationwide Plants, we are committed to offering the highest-quality trees and shrubs, grown with care to ensure they arrive at your home healthy and ready to thrive. Our Southern Wax Myrtle plants are hand-selected for their beauty, resilience, and adaptability, making them the perfect choice for any landscape. With fast shipping and excellent customer service, Nationwide Plants makes it easy to enhance your garden with this versatile evergreen shrub.

Bring Year-Round Beauty and Privacy to Your Landscape – Order Your Southern Wax Myrtle Today!

Transform your yard with the fast-growing, low-maintenance Southern Wax Myrtle. Perfect for privacy screens, hedges, or as a versatile landscape accent, this evergreen shrub brings year-round beauty, fragrance, and wildlife appeal to any outdoor space. Order today from Nationwide Plants and enjoy fast, reliable delivery of this exceptional shrub right to your door!

The Southern Wax Myrtle Hedge thrives in Zones 7-11

Growing Zones for the Southern Wax Myrtle Hedge

If you live in the green area above, we recommend the Southern Wax Myrtle Hedge.

 Growing Zones 7-11
Mature Height 15 ft.
Mature Width 10-15 ft.
Cannot Ship To AZ, OR
Sunlight Full to Partial Sun
Botanical Name Morella cerifera
The Southern Wax Myrtle Hedge thrives in Zones 7-11
Growing Zones for the Southern Wax Myrtle Hedge
If you live in the green area above, we recommend the Southern Wax Myrtle Hedge.
Growing Zones 7-11
Mature Height 15 ft.
Mature Width 10-15 ft.
Cannot Ship To AZ, OR
Sunlight: Full to Partial Sun
Botanical Name Morella cerifera
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