Walk into any retailer and the evidence is in plain sight. Christmas is a little over three weeks away.
Decorations, gifts, cards, and wrapping paper are prominently displayed for the buyer’s convenience, along with red and green pillar candles wafting holiday fragrances.
In the wild, shorter days and lower temperatures in north Florida are the most obvious traits of this annual cycle.
The local birds and animals are aware of the difference more keenly than the human residents, mostly because of the reduced volume of available food. Much of the native vegetation is dormant during this season, so any available selections are especially attractive to wildlife.
One possibility is the wax myrtle, a native Florida plant. It is a small tree or large shrub which can be grown anywhere in the state and produces copious volumes of berries that remain on the tree during winter.
The Wax Myrtle’s berries dry in late autumn, but they remain on the tree for months. Most are eaten by birds and animals during the lean days of winter, but a few will germinate and continue the species.
The wax myrtle trees are members of the Myrica plant genus, a Greek word for fragrance. The approximately 50 members of this genus are found in a majority of the inhabited world.
The bayberry is a northern U.S. member of this genus which produces large berries and is collected commercially to produce the popular candle scent. Before the advent of mass-market candles, wax myrtles had the same use in many Florida homes.
The wax myrtle does well in a moist environment, both sunny and shady. It is an excellent choice for use in poorly drained soils, but it also grows well in drier soils and alkaline pH ranges which are common in coastal areas.
It will grow in near total shade as an understory plant, but it produces a thin and spindly appearance. It is very salt tolerant, making it a suitable choice for homes on the Gulf of Mexico.
Wax myrtles can reach a height of 25 feet. Their leaves are evergreen, being narrow at the base and broader toward the upper end of the leaves. About midway up the leaf toward the tip, coarse teeth appear on the leaf edges.
Male and female flowers are produced on separate plants. The female flowers grow in close bunches, producing light green round fruits about an eighth of an inch in diameter. The fruits are coated with a thick, bluish wax and are very attractive to hungry birds and wildlife.
Wax myrtles produce suckers, small plants sprouting from the roots as they extend out from the tree. The suckers grow into large clumps, or clusters, and eventually develop into a very large, dense brushy thicket with multiple trunks.
Suckers can be removed to produce an attractive, small tree when a manicured appearance is preferred. The trunk of the wax myrtle is grayish white in color, similar to northern birch.
Wax myrtles can be grown from seeds, cuttings, and air-layering techniques. Seeds can be started in a mixture of equal parts sand and peat moss.
To transplant, dig established plants during the winter months. Cut the small plants back to within a few inches of the ground, then dig out the root clumps for placing in containers of appropriate size.
The plant will sprout and regrow in a few months as the season’s change warms the weather and lengthens the day. A small tree ten to twelve feet in height will take a few years to grow using this method, but the birds and wildlife will appreciate the effort for years to come.
For those who want to continue the tradition of home candle making, the trees and berries are a helpful resource. Just be sure to leave enough for the birds.
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