Wax Myrtle. Southern Bayberry

Description:

It is a large shrub or small tree, often multi-trunked, with gray-green aromatic foliage and clusters of blue-gray fruits on female plants

Habitat:

Garden on grounds of water reclamation plant.

Notes:

Wax myrtle trees are sometimes called candleberry trees because early American colonists used the wax in the berries and stems of wax myrtle leaves to create scented bayberry candles. The colonists frequently exported the bayberry candles to Europe. Colonists also used the leaves and branches of wax myrtle trees for ornamental purposes. The leaves and berries of wax myrtle trees are also sometimes used as flavorings and condiments. Wax myrtles are also used to make soap. The tree's distinctive, fragrant scent comes from volatile oils contained in tiny glands on the leaves. These oils cause wax myrtle to ignite in a flash in a fire, making wax myrtle a very flammable plant! Waxmyrtle is important for wildlife that depends on the persistent fruits for fat and fiber in their winter diet. Birds, such as wild turkey, bob-white quail, various waterfowl, catbirds, thrashers, bluebirds, vireos, and warblers are all frequent visitors to wax myrtle thickets. The berries are the main food for wintering tree swallows in Florida. Wildlife is the primary disperser of waxmyrtle seeds. Waxmyrtle is found from New Jersey to Florida and west into Texas and Oklahoma at elevations up to 500'. Native Indians used the leaves for seasoning as we would a bay leaf. The berries were used for seasoning as well but sparingly as they are waxy. Grind them and use like pepper. Though used as a seasoning, that was not the wax myrtle’s main value: The berries when boiled yield a wax that is excellent for making candles.