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Myrica californica (Pacific Wax Myrtle) - This California native is a vigorous multi-branched evergreen shrub or small tree, reaching up to about 30 feet tall and 20 feet wide but is easily kept smaller. It has smooth gray bark and upright stems that are densely clothed with lustrous 4-inch long, toothed-edge leaves which emerge a bright apple green is spring and darken as they mature. Myrica species are either dioecious, with male and female flowers borne on separate plants or as in the case of the Pacific Wax Myrtle monoecious, with unisexual flowers on the same plant. Both male and female flowers are inconspicuous and in tiny reddish yellow catkins late spring and summer. The female flowers can be followed by brownish-purple berries that ripen in fall.
Performs best in a full sun to partially shaded spot with a quick-draining soil. It is drought tolerant in coastal plantings but looks better when given occasional to regular irrigation and is cold hardy, tolerating temperatures below 15° F. Drought stressed plants are sometimes attacked by greenhouse thrips in coastal plantings and mites in inland gardens, but both can be mitigated by increased irrigation and/or the use of horticultural soaps or oils. This plant is suitable for use as large hedges, screens or as a specimen small tree. High wind and salt tolerance make it perfect for seaside use. The leaves have a spicy aroma that can be used like bay leaves to season food and for this reason this plant is often referred to as California Bayberry. The fruit are highly attractive to myrtle warblers and many other birds and the foliage and nectar of this plant also attracts several butterfly species.
In his 1941 catalog Theodore Payne noted that Myrica californica is "Found in Canyons in the Santa Monica Mountains and from there northward near the coast. For foliage effect it is one of the most desirable of the native shrubs. It stands ordinary garden culture quite well and will grow well in shade."
Most recent treatment of the family Myricaceae has Myrica californica renamed to Morella californica (Morella californica (Cham. & Schltdl.) Wilbur). The genus Morella has about 50 species ranging from North America, Europe, Africa, and Asia while Myrica gale, the bog myrtle of Europe and northeastern North America and Myrica hartwegii, the California native Sierra Myrtle, are the only 2 plants that remain in the genus Myrica. We continue to list this plant incorrectly under the name Myrica californica until such time that those of us who learned this plant as Myrica get used to the name Morella.
The information displayed on this page about Myrica californica is based on our research conducted about this plant from books in our nursery library as well as from information that is provided by reliable online resources. We also have included our own observations made about it as it grew in the nursery gardens and other gardens visited, as well how the crops of this plant performed in the containers when we had them in our nursery field. We also include comments received from others and welcome hearing from anyone who has information about this plant, particularly if it includes cultural information aiding others to better grow it.
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