Wax myrtle (Southern bayberry)

Morella cerifera

Southeastern US evergreen shrub of coastal areas. Salt-tolerant, fast growing, and wildlife-friendly — a workhorse for southern coastal gardens.

Hardiness ratings

Wax myrtle (Southern bayberry) hardiness across the four zone systems
SystemRatingTemperature rangeHow to read it
USDA hardiness zone Zone 6–10 −23.3 °C to 4.4 °C Plant tolerates down to this zone
RHS hardiness rating H6 −20 °C to −15 °C Plant needs at least this level of cold tolerance
Canadian plant hardiness zone Zone 6–9 −18 °C and warmer Plant tolerates down to this zone
Australian (ANBG) zone Zone 2–6 −10 °C to 15 °C Plant tolerates down to this zone

Growing notes

  • Fixes nitrogen via Frankia bacteria (actinorhizal symbiosis) rather than the Rhizobium of legumes — a non-legume nitrogen fixer
  • Important winter food source for the yellow-rumped warbler (formerly the myrtle warbler) — one of the few birds that can digest the wax
  • Salt tolerant — excellent for coastal screening and windbreaks

Categories

Related plants

Cross-check Wax myrtle (Southern bayberry) against your zones

Reference

Wax myrtle (Southern bayberry) on Wikipedia