Wax myrtle zone full#

These shrubs are considered to be potential fire hazards in some areas because the leaves, stems and branches contain flammable aromatic compounds. Find Southern Wax Myrtle (Myrica cerifera) in Columbia Spring Hill Franklin Lewisburg Nashville Tennessee TN at Fernwood Garden. Each fruit is surrounded by an aromatic waxy substance.īirds eat the fruits in fall and winter, thus helping the plants to naturalize by disbursing the seed. Pollinated female flowers are followed by small attractive clusters of tiny, globose, blue-gray fruits which mature in late summer to fall, with persistence through winter. Flowers bloom in late winter to early spring. Flowers are fragrant but non-showy, with only the flowers on male plants (catkins to 1” long) displaying some color (a drab yellowish-green). Leaves, particularly the new growth, emit the distinctive bayberry candle fragrance when crushed. Glossy, aromatic, oblanceolate, olive green leaves (to 3-5” long) are dotted with tiny yellow resin glands. The fruits of this species have been used for many years to make bayberry candles, soaps and sealing wax. It is typically found in a variety of habitats including wetlands, river margins, sand dunes, pine barrens, hillsides, and upland forests. from New Jersey to Florida through the Gulf States to Oklahoma and Texas and further south into Mexico and Central America. Irrigation during dry periods is essential.Morella cerifera, commonly known as southern wax myrtle or southern bayberry, is a large, irregularly-shaped, dense-branching, nitrogen-fixing, suckering, fast-growing, evergreen shrub (semi-evergreen in colder northern parts of the growing area) that typically grows to 10-15’ tall and 8-10’ wide, but occasionally reaches a tree-like height of 20’ tall or more. When you are growing crepe myrtle in zone 5, you’ll want to fertilize the plants once a year only in spring. Remove fabric and mulch as spring arrives. Act before the soil freezes to better protect the root crown. Cover the plant with protective fabric, then pile mulch on top. Clip off all stems a few inches (7.5 cm.). Don’t plant this tree in autumn, since the roots will have a harder time.Ĭut back your zone 5 crepe myrtle trees after the first hard freezes in autumn. It also helps to do the planting in mid-summer so that the roots dig into warm soil and establish fast. Even cold hardy crepe myrtle do better in a hot location. These shrubs stay healthier and live longer if you remove no more than 1/3 of the plant during a hard pruning. Wax myrtles can be shaped with a light shearing of foliage using hedge trimmers. Adding composted cow manure isn't necessary but can be beneficial. They can make the difference in your plant’s survival. Plant care Add top soil or organic peat humus to the hole when you plant.

If you start growing crepe myrtle in zone 5 using ‘Filligree’ or other cold hardy crepe myrtle cultivars, you’ll also want to take precautions to follow these planting tips. They offer a brilliant burst of color after the first flush of spring. These were developed in a breeding program by the Fleming brothers. Yet, they are labeled for zones 4 through 9. These trees offer stunning blossoms in the middle of the summer in colors that include red, coral and violet.

If the plants are labeled zone 5 crepe myrtle trees, they will likely survive the cold.Ī good place to start is with the ‘Filligree’ cultivars. Select one of the cold hardy crepe myrtle cultivars. You’ll need to do your homework before planting and growing crepe myrtle in zone 5. So can crepe myrtle grow in zone 5? If you select a cultivar carefully and plant it in a protected area, then yes, it may be possible. If winter comes abruptly, the trees can suffer severe damage in the 20’s.īut still, you’ll find these beautiful trees flowering in zones 6 and even 5. (-15 C.) if fall leads into winter with a gradual cool down. The canopies survive down to 5 degrees F. But most are labeled for planting in zone 7 or above.

Wax myrtle zone full#

Cold Hardy Crepe MyrtleĬrepe myrtle in full bloom may offer more flowers than any other garden tree. Read on for information on zone 5 crepe myrtle trees. However, growing crepe myrtles in zone 5 regions is possible. But if you live in a cooler clime, you may despair of finding cold hardy crepe myrtle trees. With showy flowers and smooth bark that peels back as it ages, these trees offer many incentives to willing gardeners. Crepe myrtles ( Lagerstroemia indica, Lagerstroemia indica x faurei) are among the most popular landscape trees in the southeastern United States.