Pacific Wax Myrtle Berries

Fruit are wide purple to black colored berries that are covered with a white waxy bloom.

Pacific wax myrtle berries. Best berry production is obtained in full sun. Sun or partial shade is best but it will survive in almost full shade. Design ideasa top choice for windswept coastal gardens use this elegant shrub to block harsh winds or an unsightly view. Tall and wide 3 5 m and 8 10 ft.

The wax was also used in making soups. The waxy berries were used by colonists to make bayberry candles soaps and sealing wax. Morella californica cham wilbur. This species was easily grown and valued especially on the pacific coast for its berries and evergreen leaves wyman 1965.

Grows up to 10 15 ft. Blooms spring to summer followed by small purple black fruit clusters. Plant in large groupings to create a tall screen or a formal manicured hedge. Morella is probably derived from morus the latin name for mulberry giving it a literal meaning of.

The fruit is a single seeded wrinkled berry in small tight clusters that are coated with a waxy white covering turning from red to black showier than the flowers. Each berry only has one seed within. Pacific wax myrtle the bayberry family myricaceae. Berries are noted in september october.

The pacific wax myrtle is still mostly known in the trade as myrica californica. Wax myrtle can withstand damp locations and summer drought. Birds love the tiny purplish fruits. Tends to sucker to form large colonies.

Performs best in full sun or part shade in average medium to wet slightly acid soils. A gray brown and a maroon purple dye was obtained from the fresh or dried berries grae 1974.