Carried by 47 nurseries
View Availability at NurseryData provided by the participants of the Consortium of California Herbaria
View additional distribution information on the Jepson eflora
California wax myrtle (Morella californica) is a moderately fast growing and long-lived shrub or tree.It grows in an upright form, with active growth during the spring and summer. The shiny dark-green leaves remain on the plant throughout the year, making it an attractive garden planting. The flowers are yellow and bloom in the early summer.
This plant does well in coastal gardens and also inland if given slightly more moisture and afternoon shade. In general, California wax myrtle is a low water plant and should be watered a maximum of once a week in summer once established. It tolerates a variety of soils and may be sheared to form a hedge or to create a more formal appearance.
Shrub
6 - 33 ft Tall
20 ft Wide
Upright
Fast, Moderate
Evergreen
Yellow
Summer
Bank stabilization, Hedge
Partial Shade, Full Sun
Low, Moderate
Max 1x / week once established
Easy
Tolerates cold to 20° F
Medium
Tolerates a variety of soils.
Soil PH: 4.0 - 8.0
May be sheared to form a hedge or to create a more formal appearance.
For propagating by seed: 2 to 3 months stratification
5*, 6, 7, 8, 9, 14*, 15*, 16*, 17*, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22*, 23*, 24*
Dunes, coastal hills, inland foothills and valleys in conjunction with northern coastal prairie or scrub, woodland, or sometimes wetland/riparian communities
Closed-cone Pine Forest, Coastal Strand, Northern Coastal Scrub, Forest, Wetland-Riparian
Use with trees such as Firs (Abies spp.), Coast Redwood (Sequoia sempervirens), Pines (Pinus spp.), and Spruce (Picea spp.), or with shrubs such as Manzanita (Arctostaphylos spp.), Ceanothus spp., Coffeeberry (Frangula spp.), and Coast Silktassel (Garrya elliptica).
Butterflies and moths supported
0 confirmed and 22 likely
Sallow Button
Acleris hastiana
Common Gray
Anavitrinella pampinaria
Polyphemus moth
Antheraea polyphemus