What is Wax Myrtle?

Wax Myrtle ( Morella Corifera ) is a permanent shrub or a small tree originating in the United States, but also grows in Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean. It is also called Bayberry, Candleberry and Waxberry, with wax cover of fruit that can be extracted to produce fragrant candles. The plant tolerates various soils, including sand, clay and salt, making it a resistant choice for many areas.

In residential areas, Wax Myrtle is the ideal bush of privacy or decorative tree if it is regularly cut. This evergreen produces dense leaves with compact shape when planted in groups. There are regular and dwarf varieties that can be spread seeds or cuttings.

Green yellow leaves and flowers from the myrtle tree release a fragrant scent when it crushes or disintegrates. Lace leaves oil also makes the plant highly flammable, along with wax coverage on berries. The bark is thin and smooth, from green to gray.

frit wax myrtle grows in clusters of green bobLissed with light blue wax and appears on female plants. Soon the Americans cooked fruit to remove the wax that was used to make fragrant candles. The berries ripen in autumn and last until spring and provide food source for wildlife when other plants become sleeping.

Deer, quail, wild turkey, ducks and other birds depend on the fibers and fat of wax myrtle berries for nutrients during the winter. Some birds nest in the branches of the Myrtle tree to hide from the predators. Deer also uses leaves as a shield during the winter months.

This tree is popular in the restoration of wetlands because it tolerates brackish water near the swamps. It is also used in acidic or alkaline soil and flourishes in clay, deep sand and salty ground. Wax Myrtle tolerates the heat and areas susceptible to floods, along with full sun or partial shadow. Resistant to sections and most diseases, withexception of leaf molds that began to infect plants in the US parts in 2007.

fungal spores carried by wind could attack leaves, causing to brown and drop. The disease usually starts at the bottom of the plant and spreads up during the autumn and winter. Myrtles infected with leaf mold could produce new leaves per year or two if the gardeners clean fallen leaves and cut off the sick parts of the plant.

male and female tree are necessary to produce fruit by pollination. To spread from the seeds, the wax should be left until it is ready for planting. Some gardeners use Louh and water solution to remove the wax coating. Cuts require enough water until new plants are determined. After rooting, myrtle usually grows fast.