Practical
Plants

Myrica cerifera

Wax Myrtle

a perennial woody deciduous member of the Myrica genus in the family Myricaceae.

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Taxonomy and growth

Genus
Myrica
Life cycle
perennial
Foliage
deciduous
Woodiness
woody
Height
9 m
Spread
3 m
Fertility
Wind
Flower type
monoecious
Pollinators
Wind

Uses

Toxicity

Toxicity warning. The historical record reports a hazard for this plant. Do not use it to decide which parts are safe to eat or use medicinally.

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

There is a report that some of the constituents of the wax are carcinogenic[12].

Edible uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Fruit - raw or cooked[2][6][8]. The fruit is about 3mm in diameter with a large seed[9]. There is very little edible flesh and the quality is poor[K]. Leaves and berries are used as a food flavouring[24][2][6]. They make an aromatic, attractive and agreeable substitute for bay leaves, and can be used in flavouring soups, stews etc[8]. The dried leaves are brewed into a robust tea[8].

Product or use
Condiment
Product or use
Tea
Plant part
Fruit

Medicinal uses

Historical medicinal uses. These records describe reported uses. They do not establish safety or effectiveness. Ask a qualified health professional before using any plant medicinally.

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Wax myrtle is a popular herbal remedy in North America where it is employed to increase the circulation, stimulate perspiration and keep bacterial infections in check[17]. The plant should not be used during pregnancy[17]. The root bark is antibacterial, astringent, emetic (in large doses), sternutatory, stimulant and tonic[19][10][21][4][11][17]. It is harvested in the autumn, thoroughly dried then powdered and kept in a dark place in an airtight container[19]. It is used internally in the treatment of diarrhoea, irritable bowel syndrome, jaundice, fevers, colds, influenza, catarrh, excessive menstruation, vaginal discharge etc[19][15][17]. Externally, it is applied to indolent ulcers, sore throats, spongy gums, sores, itching skin conditions, dandruff etc[19][15][17]. The wax is astringent and slightly narcotic[19]. It is regarded as a sure cure for dysentery and is also used to treat internal ulcers[19]. A tea made from the leaves is used in the treatment of fevers and externally as a wash for itchy skin[12].

Product or use
Antibacterial
Product or use
Astringent
Product or use
Emetic
Product or use
Narcotic
Product or use
Sternutatory
Product or use
Stimulant
Product or use
Tonic

Material uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

A wax covering on the fruit contains palmitic acid and is extracted by scalding the fruit with boiling water and immersing them for a few minutes, the wax floats to the surface and is then skimmed off. The fruit is then boiled in water to extract the wax from the pulp and once more the wax is skimmed off. It is then strained through a muslin cloth and can be used to make aromatic candles, sealing wax etc[1][19][23][3][24][27][5][16][18]. Candles made from this wax are quite brittle but are less greasy in warm weather[11]. They are slightly aromatic, with a pleasant balsamic odour[16], and do not smoke when put out, making them much more pleasant to use that wax or tallow candles[11]. The wax is also used in making soaps[11]. About 1 kilo of wax can be obtained from 4 kilos of berries[19]. A blue dye is obtained from the fruit[23]. The plant can be grown as an informal hedge[9], succeeding in windy sites[K]. Wood - light, soft, brittle, fine-grained[26][13]. The wood weighs 35lb per cubic foot[13]. It is of no commercial value[14].

Product or use
Dye
Product or use
Wax
Product or use
Wood

Ecology and functions

Hedge

Nitrogen fixer

Environment

Range
South-eastern N. America. Possibly naturalized in S. England[22].
Habitat
Thickets on sandy soil near swamps and marshes[20], also on dry arid hills in which situation it is often only a few centimetres tall[26].
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
light shade
Water
moderate
Hardiness
Zone 6+
Soil textures
sandy, loamy, clay
Soil pH
acid, neutral
Drainage
well drained
Tolerances
high wind
Wind
Yes
Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
No
Drought
intolerant

Propagation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe in the autumn in a cold frame[25]. Stored seed germinates more freely if given a 3 month cold stratification and then sown in a cold frame[25]. Germination is usually good[25]. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots when they are large enough to handle and grow them on in the cold frame for the first winter. Plant out in late spring or early summer[K]. Cuttings of half-ripe wood, 5 - 8cm with a heel, July/August in a frame. Pot up and overwinter in a cold frame then plant out in late spring or early summer. Fair to good percentage[25]. Layering in spring[9].

Cultivation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Prefers a moist soil[9]. Grows well in an open position in a well-drained soil in sun or light shade[9]. Thrives in any ordinary garden soil according to one report[3] whilst another says that it thrives in an acid soil[7]. Prefers a lime-free loamy or peaty soil[1]. Plants can be evergreen in areas with warmer winters than in Britain[13]. Some reports say that the plant is dioecious whilst others say it is monoecious. It is most likely that both forms exist[82, K]. A polymorphic species[3], there are some named forms. 'Myda' is a large-fruited female form of low growth[7]. The fruit is covered with a deposit of wax that has a balsamic odour[16]. The fruits can hang on the plant for several years[11]. Closely related to M. pensylvanica, with which it hybridizes[20]. Plants in this genus are notably resistant to honey fungus[9]. Many species in this genus have a symbiotic relationship with certain soil micro-organisms, these form nodules on the roots of the plants and fix atmospheric nitrogen. Some of this nitrogen is utilized by the growing plant but some can also be used by other plants growing nearby[9].

References

  1. F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951-00-00

    ↩1↩2

  2. Tanaka. T. Tanaka's Cyclopaedia of Edible Plants of the World. Keigaku Publishing 1976-00-00

    ↩1↩2

  3. Bean. W. Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Vol 1 - 4 and Supplement. Murray 1981-00-00

    ↩1↩2↩3

  4. Mills. S. Y. The Dictionary of Modern Herbalism.

    ↩

  5. Hill. A. F. Economic Botany. The Maple Press 1952-00-00

    ↩

  6. Kunkel. G. Plants for Human Consumption. Koeltz Scientific Books 1984-00-00 ISBN 3874292169

    ↩1↩2

  7. Thomas. G. S. Ornamental Shrubs, Climbers and Bamboos. Murray 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-7195-5043-2

    ↩1↩2

  8. Facciola. S. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-9628087-0-9

    ↩1↩2↩3

  9. Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5↩6↩7

  10. Lust. J. The Herb Book. Bantam books 1983-00-00 ISBN 0-553-23827-2

    ↩

  11. Weiner. M. A. Earth Medicine, Earth Food. Ballantine Books 1980-00-00 ISBN 0-449-90589-6

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5

  12. Foster. S. & Duke. J. A. A Field Guide to Medicinal Plants. Eastern and Central N. America. Houghton Mifflin Co. 1990-00-00 ISBN 0395467225

    ↩1↩2

  13. Vines. R.A. Trees of North Texas University of Texas Press. 1982-00-00 ISBN 0292780206

    ↩1↩2↩3

  14. Elias. T. The Complete Trees of N. America. Field Guide and Natural History. Van Nostrand Reinhold Co. 1980-00-00 ISBN 0442238622

    ↩

  15. Bown. D. Encyclopaedia of Herbs and their Uses. Dorling Kindersley, London. 1995-00-00 ISBN 0-7513-020-31

    ↩1↩2

  16. Genders. R. Scented Flora of the World. Robert Hale. London. 1994-00-00 ISBN 0-7090-5440-8

    ↩1↩2↩3

  17. Chevallier. A. The Encyclopedia of Medicinal Plants Dorling Kindersley. London 1996-00-00 ISBN 9-780751-303148

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5

  18. Diggs, Jnr. G.M.; Lipscomb. B. L. & O'Kennon. R. J Illustrated Flora of North Central Texas Botanical Research Institute, Texas. 1999-00-00 http://artemis.austincollege.edu/acad/bio/gdiggs/NCTXpdf.htm

    ↩

  19. Grieve. A Modern Herbal. Penguin 1984-00-00 ISBN 0-14-046-440-9

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5↩6↩7↩8

  20. Fernald. M. L. Gray's Manual of Botany. American Book Co. 1950-00-00

    ↩1↩2

  21. Uphof. J. C. Th. Dictionary of Economic Plants. Weinheim 1959-00-00

    ↩

  22. ? Flora Europaea Cambridge University Press 1964-00-00

    ↩

  23. Mabey. R. Plants with a Purpose. Fontana 1979-00-00 ISBN 0-00-635555-2

    ↩1↩2

  24. Elias. T. and Dykeman. P. A Field Guide to N. American Edible Wild Plants. Van Nostrand Reinhold 1982-00-00 ISBN 0442222009

    ↩1↩2

  25. Sheat. W. G. Propagation of Trees, Shrubs and Conifers. MacMillan and Co 1948-00-00

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

  26. Sargent. C. S. Manual of the Trees of N. America. Dover Publications Inc. New York. 1965-00-00 ISBN 0-486-20278-X

    ↩1↩2

  27. Saunders. C. F. Edible and Useful Wild Plants of the United States and Canada. Dover Publications 1976-00-00 ISBN 0-486-23310-3

    ↩

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