Don's Dwarf Wax Myrtle

Don's dwarf wax myrtle

Dwarf wax myrtle has become a mainstay in many Texas landscapes, valued for its aromatic, soft, evergreen foliage, 5- to 6-foot height and spread, and adaptability to full sun or bright shade and a variety of soils, ranging from boggy to very dry.

How fast does a dwarf wax myrtle grow?

Fast growth rate. From 3 to 5 feet of growth per year, the Wax Myrtle is one of the fastest-growing privacy hedges.

Will wax myrtle grow back?

You can prune the old branches severely now, sparing the suckers; don't wait until it starts to get hot. Then, after that, prune it a couple times of year to help it regrow into a hedge size and shape.

Do wax myrtles have deep roots?

The wax myrtle root system can be three times as far as the canopy.

What is the lifespan of a wax myrtle?

Southern Wax Myrtle will grow to be about 15 feet tall at maturity, with a spread of 10 feet. It has a low canopy, and is suitable for planting under power lines. It grows at a fast rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for approximately 30 years.

Will wax myrtles survive a freeze?

Evergreens and more frost-resistant trees and shrubs should fare better. Common examples of this group of plants are yaupon hollies, wax myrtles, and crape myrtles. These species may brown in sections, but ultimately survive.

Does wax myrtle repel mosquitoes?

First, Wax Myrtle. The plant has a little pungent odor when the leaves are rubbed. It's a native, so that makes it really inexpensive as mosquito control for the area, Gaskins said. The plant can be used as a hedge for front or backyards, and it works really well in pots.

Do wax myrtles need a lot of water?

Southern wax myrtle tolerates moist and dry soils, but grows best when watered around the drip line every 10 to 14 days; however, don't water your tree around the trunk.

Are wax myrtles cold hardy?

The Waxmyrtle is winter hardy to USDA Zones 7-10 where it is easily grown in average, medium to wet soils in full sun to dappled or part shade. It even grows in the elusive dry shade.

What kills wax myrtle?

Triclopyr-based herbicides cause supressed or abnormal growth that disrupts and eventually kills the crape myrtle. The herbicide may be applied to the foliage, the roots, or both. As with other broadleaf herbicides, crape myrtle trees absorb the poison and circulate it, causing the tree to die.

What time of year do you plant wax myrtles?

Plants should be planted into their permanent positions in the late spring or early summer. In exposed situations, the wax myrtle forms a little more than a bushy arborescent shrub but in protected areas it becomes a medium sized tree, much branched and densely leafy, with a gray warty unfissured bark (Howell 1949).

How do you maintain a wax myrtle?

Plant wax myrtle in a full sun to part sun area where roots will not be disturbed. This plant is salt tolerant and takes sea spray well, making it an exceptional beach front planting. The wax myrtle is adaptable to a range of soils but prefers the soil to be moist.

Do wax myrtles smell?

The wax myrtle belongs to the wax myrtle family (Myricaceae), and is characterized by the aromatic glands found on the surfaces of its leaves. These glands release a sweet odor when crushed.

Do wax myrtles attract bees?

Myrica cerifera Birds such as wild turkey, quail, waterfowl, catbirds, bluebirds and warblers are attracted to the pale blue berries that the female plants grow in the fall and maintain throughout the winter. Butterflies and bees will also flock to tree, but because of its aromatic foliage, it will repel insects.

What is the difference between a wax myrtle and a southern wax myrtle?

The natural shape of the southern wax myrtle is a large rounded shrub or multi-trunk tree they can

Do wax myrtles spread?

To produce an unbroken hedge, your wax myrtles must be no farther apart than their eventual spread, usually about 20 or 25 feet. If each plant reaches 20 feet, and therefore spreads to 10 feet on each side, then two hedges will eventually meet in the middle of a 20-foot spacing.

Can wax myrtle grow in containers?

Wax Myrtle growing in pots appreciate a consistently moist, but well-drained soil. Therefore, I suggest a container with a drainage hole(s) filled with a quality potting soil. Choose a container that is large enough to allow for 2 to 3 years of growth before shifting up to a larger size container.

How do I make my wax myrtles thicker?

How to Make a Wax Myrtle Thick

Cut wax myrtle back to 12 inches tall in late winter when the shrub is one to two years old to encourage compact growth.
Prune off tips of new shoots during the growing season to promote branching. ...
Clip branches during each growing season to encourage additional branches for a thick shrub.

Do birds like wax myrtles?

The southern wax myrtle is one of the most prolific berry-producing plants. Thousands of small, waxy, blue fruit are produced in clusters or mounds along stems. This is a must-have plant for bird lovers, as it feeds about 40 species. The waxy fruit was once boiled and used to make bayberry candles.

How tall do wax myrtles get?

This rapidly-growing, small, evergreen native tree is capable of reaching a height of 25 feet with an equal spread but is usually seen in the 10 to 20-foot range. Sometimes used as a large shrubbery screen, Southern Waxmyrtle is ideal for use as a small tree, the lower limbs removed to reveal its picturesque form.