Myrica cerifera 'Little Bull' (Southern Wax Myrtle)

Myrica cerifera 'Little Bull' is a semi-compact cultivar of southern wax myrtle, a large, broad-leaved evergreen shrub with aromatic leaves. While the straight species of southern wax myrtle can grow to a maximum size of ten to twenty feet tall and wide, Myrica cerifera 'Little Bull' grows is a rounded form to only 10' tall and wide. Beyond its slightly smaller habit, the 'Little Bull' cultivar's foliage sets it apart from the crowd, with small, pale green leaves on new growth that mature to larger, darker green leaves than many other cultivars, adding extra appeal to borders, screens, and specimen plantings. Once established, southern wax myrtle is incredibly hardy, and can be grown in a wide range of habitats thanks to its tolerance of heat, drought, various light levels, poorly draining wet soils, and even salt. For more northern reaches, however, 'Little Bull' is not very cold tolerant, and especially harsh winters can cause the plant to defoliate, resulting in a semi-evergreen appearance.

'Little Bull' southern wax myrtle blooms from early to late spring, depending on climate, and produces small, inconspicuous yellow-green flowers; as an all-female cultivar, flowers will eventually turn to small, blue-gray berries in the autumn when plants are grown alongside a male pollinator. These hard, waxy berries southern give wax myrtle its other common name of waxberry. Waxberries are an excellent food source for a variety of birds, with their waxy coating protecting them from water and heat damage, so Myrica cerifera 'Little Bull' is sure to draw in both birds and butterfly hosts throughout the course of the year. With its attractive, even foliage, semi-compact size, and wide ranging ecological appeal, 'Little Bull' makes for an excellent addition to borders and screens, woodland gardens, foundations plantings, and for standalone plantings as a specimen.