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Morella cerifera (Linnaeus) Small. Common name: Common Wax-myrtle, Southern Bayberry. Phenology: Apr; Aug-Oct. Habitat: Interdune swales (where often dominant), pocosins, brackish marshes, other wet to moist habitats, now also widely planted (including in the Piedmont) as an ornamental or landscaping shrub and persistent or naturalizing in suburban woodlands. Distribution: As a native, widespread in the Coastal Plain of Southeastern United States: NJ south to FL and west to TX; Bahamas; West Indies; Mexico and Central America.

Origin/Endemic status: Native

Taxonomy Comments: Our most common Morella, and also the largest, sometimes becoming a small tree, to at least 15 m tall and 25 cm DBH. See Morella pusilla for a discussion of the controversial taxonomy of Morella cerifera and Morella pusilla.

Synonymy ⓘ: = K4, NS, S13, Va, Weakley & Poindexter (2023) in Weakley et al (2023); = Cerothamnus ceriferus (L.) Small — S; = Myrica cerifera L. — F, G, NcTx, POWO, Tx; = Myrica cerifera L. var. cerifera — RAB, Elias (1971b); < Morella cerifera (L.) Small — Il, Mex, Herbert (2005), Wilbur (1994); < Myrica cerifera L. — Ar, C, Fl2, FNA3, GW2, WH3; > Myrica cerifera L. — Tat; > Myrica pusilla Raf. — Tat, misapplied; Myrica cerifera L. Basionym: Myrica cerifera L. 1753

Links to other floras: < Myrica cerifera - FNA3

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Wetland Indicator Status:

  • Atlantic and Gulf Coastal Plain: FAC (taxonomic split from wetland indicator species)
  • Eastern Mountains and Piedmont: FAC
  • Great Plains: FAC (taxonomic split from wetland indicator species)
  • Northcentral & Northeast: FAC (taxonomic split from wetland indicator species)

Heliophily ⓘ: 7

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image of plant© Bruce A. Sorrie | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Gary P. Fleming | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Gary P. Fleming | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Richard LeBlond | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© J.W. Hardin | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Bruce A. Sorrie | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Collectors SOS | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Radford, Ahles and Bell | Original Image ⭷

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Horticultural Information

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Height: 10-15 ft.

plant sale text: A tough and handsome evergreen shrub, common wax-myrtle is commonly seen in the wild in coastal forests and swamps. This native species is related to bayberry, and you may notice that its pleasantly aromatic foliage smells like bayberry candles. Common wax-myrtle is a great plant to include in your garden to provide cover for birds. Common wax-myrtle makes a fine screen, growing rapidly once established. You can also prune it as a small specimen tree. Its attractive pale grey bark provides year-round interest.

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native range: southeastern U.S. & Mexico



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