Morella californica

Myrica californica, the Pacific wax myrtle, is an easy to grow, medium sized, BC native, broadleaf evergreen shrub-tree that offers great versatility as a lush semi-tropical looking filler for the garden. It has inconspicuous catkins in spring giving way to clusters of dark wrinkled, purple fruits in late summer that persist well into midwinter providing food for birds. Its attractive, glossy green, narrow leaves are aromatic when crushed. Long-lived and moderately fast-growing with an attractive natural rounded form of 10-15 feet tall and wide. An ideal choice for formal, naturalistic or coastal gardens due to its tolerance to salt spray, as hedges or informal screens, and as an attractive specimen. Nitrogen fixer. The flowers attract butterflies, the fruit attracts birds, and plants are a larval host for various butterfly and moth species. Deer resistant.

As a neat attractive hedge, screen, or specimen, this 10' bush is fine; glossy fragrant leaves, with small blue fruits on female plants (ours unsexed). S/M-D

Zn 7. Small yellow flowers. Evergreen shrub.

Dark green, narrow, leathery leaves grow densely on a multi-trunked small tree or large shrub, with pretty, mottled light gray and light green bark. Amenable to pruning, particularly if you'd like a dense screen, and appropriate for either a naturalistic or formal garden. Handsome; evergreen 10-15' T & W.Minimum temperature: 0?F

This evergreen shrub or small tree grows to 10'-30' tall, and can be used in the landscape as a hedge or to soften an unattractive feature or wall. California wax myrtle is one of the best looking native plants for gardens according to Sunset Garden Books. The attractive foliage attracts birds and the plant tolerates pruning well. Native to California and is also found outside of California, but is confined to western North America. Good nesting site for small birds and the chemicals produced in the leaves make this plant deer resistant. Good nitrogen fixer in a moist location and makes a strong windbreak. The bark and leaves have historically been used for stomach ailments. The wax may be extracted from the fruit and made into candles and soap; however, this species produces much less wax than other bayberries, and so is rarely used for this purpose. Found in coastal, riparian, seep and springs. Communitites located in Redwood/Closed-cone Pine Forest, Coastal Strand, Northern Coastal Scrub, Wetland-riparian Between 0 and 492 feet.

The name is derived from the Greek myrike, the Homeric name for tamarisk. An erect, densely branched evergreen shrub up to 30' tall, the Pacific wax myrtle is usually smaller especially in garden situations. On coastal bluffs where it is subjected to heavy winds, it assumes a low, dwarfed form. Usually multi-trunked with smooth gray bark and a columnar habit, its main appeal is its clean, handsome foliage that provides a rich green element to the landscape throughout the year. The new leaves unfold bright apple-green and sparkle in the afternoon light against the mature dark green, glossy foliage. Useful as a screen, an informal hedge, or trained into a small formal tree. Mature plants are drought tolerant, but much more effective with regular garden water in coastal sites. Hardy to 0F. Coastal areas from California to Washington.

Good screen or hedge, prune to make dense. Tolerates dry, sandy and/or moist soils. Deer resistant. Zones 7-9.

Large shrub that can be easily trained to a small tree to 15 ft or so, but easily kept smaller or shorn into a hedge. Evergreen leaves are fine textured and very fragrant. Can be found growing along the immediate West Coast -- one of our best natives. Full sun to half shade. Drought tolerant once established. Perfers at least decent drainage. Frost hardy to 0F, USDA zone 7.

This broadleaf evergreen is one of the Northwest's most valuable garden plants. It is native along the immediate Pacific Coast from California up to Vancouver Island, where it grows as a low shrub in exposed areas right at the beach, to a small tree to 25' in coastal forests. In gardens it makes an excellent screen for shelter or specimen tree for a native planting, and it is always in high demand in Northwest nurseries. It also has value as wildlife habitat, since it produces little black berries that the birds like. Although it will tolerate both drought and poor drainage, it looks a lot better on decent soil with at least a little irrigation. Hardy to about 0 °F.