Our native wax myrtle, Myrica cerifera, is a ubiquitous plant, oft scorned by plant snobs as a mere commoner. As a functional shrub with deliciously fragrant foliage, it’s prized by both builders, and the mow and blow crowd, because its tough as nails in a wide range of conditions from sun to shade, and from wet to dry soils.
The reason serious plant people dismiss it for their own gardens isn’t a problem with the plant itself, as much as it is its misuse in garden settings. First of all, Myrica cerifera is the classic ugly duckling, looking gangly for years, before becoming a beauty as it ages. The misuse comes from taking a 45′ tall shrub, and putting it in a location where a 4′ hedge is needed, and butcher away. As we say in the south, “Here’s your sign”.
Now, its had a name change…at least according to a small group of plant taxonomists. The first species in the genus Myrica, named, in 1753, was Myrica gale, a smaller growing, deciduous plant, with a circumpolar distribution. Recent DNA work has shown that the smaller, deciduous species should stay together under the Myrica name, and the larger evergreen plants, should be moved to the genus Morella.
To grow a nice specimen, as beautiful as the 60 year old specimen below, likely native to the JLBG property, plant it in a moist, sunny site, where it has enough room to grow, lay the hedge clippers on the ground, and back away. The plant below is now 25′ tall x 25′ wide.
Thank you for this wonderful post!