Myrica cerifera
 
Common Names Southern Wax Myrtle, Bayberry, Candleberry, Tallow Shrub
 
Zones 7–11
 
A fast-growing, aromatic evergreen shrub native to the southeastern U.S., Myrica cerifera is a keystone species in coastal restoration and wildlife gardens. Found naturally in pine flatwoods, wet prairies, and dune margins, it tolerates salt, drought, and poor soils. Its waxy berries feed migratory birds, while its dense foliage provides year-round cover and screening.
 
Key Features
Growth Habit: Multi-stemmed shrub or small tree; rounded and spreading
Height: Typically 10–20 ft (3–6 m); may reach 25 ft in ideal conditions
Leaves: Alternate; narrowly oblanceolate; aromatic when crushed; dotted with yellow resin glands
Bark: Smooth to slightly fissured; gray-brown; often exfoliates in older specimens
Flowers: Small; yellow-green; catkin-like; male and female on separate plants (dioecious); bloom early spring
Fruit: Waxy gray drupes; clustered along stems; persist into winter; used historically for candle-making
Ecology: Supports birds, pollinators, and beneficial insects; nitrogen-fixing; forms thickets via suckering
 
Growing Conditions
Light: Full sun to part shade
Watering: Low once established; tolerates wet or dry sites
Soil: Sandy, loamy, or clay; well-drained to seasonally wet; acidic to neutral
Temperature: Hardy to ~0°F (–18°C); evergreen in warm zones
Humidity: High tolerance; ideal for coastal and subtropical climates
Propagation: Seed or root division; female plants needed for fruit
Tolerance: Salt spray, drought, wind, poor soils, urban conditions
 
Landscape Use Ideal for coastal buffers, native hedges, and wildlife screens. Use in
restoration zones, wetland margins, or as a fast-growing privacy barrier. Pairs well with Ilex glabra, Vaccinium arboreum, and Cephalanthus occidentalis.