Myrica cerifera 'Don's Dwarf' (Dwarf Southern Waxmyrtle)

Myrica cerifera 'Don's Dwarf' is a cultivar of southern wax myrtle, a large, broad-leaved evergreen shrub with aromatic leaves. The 'Don's Dwarf' variety is a more compact version of the straight species: while the straight species can grow to a maximum size of over ten to twenty feet, Myrica cerifera 'Don's Dwarf' grows to only 4-6' tall and wide. Once established, 'Don's Dwarf' wax myrtle is incredibly hardy, and can be grown in a wide range of habitats thanks to its tolerance of heat and drought as well as poorly-draining wet soils, including salt saturated ones. For more northern reachees, however, 'Don's Dwarf' is not very cold tolerant, and foliage will look best in mild winters; cold, windy winters can cause the plant to defoliate, resulting in a semi-evergreen appearance.

'Don's Dwarf' southern wax myrtle blooms from early to late spring, depending on climate, and produces small, inconspciuous yellow-green flowers and, as an all-female cultivar, flowers will eventually turn to small, blue-gray berries in the presence of a male pollinator like 'Little Bull;' these berries 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 'Don's Dwarf' is sure to draw in both pollinators and a good number of birds throughout the course of the year. With its attractive, even foliage, compact size, and ecological appeal, 'Don's Dwarf' makes for an excellent addition to borders and screens, woodland gardens, foundations, and specimen plantings.