wax myrtle
noun
: any of a genus (Myrica of the family Myricaceae, the wax-myrtle family) of trees or shrubs with aromatic foliage
especially
: a shrub or small tree (M. cerifera) of the eastern U.S. having small hard berries with a thick coating of bluish-white wax used for candles
Examples of wax myrtle in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Zone: 7 to 10 Mature size: 40 to 70 feet tall x 3 to 6 feet wide
Care requirements: Full sun; well-draining soil
Great for welcoming pollinators to your yard, wax myrtle (Myrica cerifera) boasts attractive glossy leaves and flowers that aren't showy, but can be fragrant, says Abdi.
—
Madeline Buiano, Martha Stewart, 17 Feb. 2026
This includes camellias, azaleas, boxwoods, gardenias, and wax myrtles.
—Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 4 Feb. 2026
Other good sources of winter food for robins include wild blueberries, hackberry, American beautyberry, possumhaw, wax myrtle, and holly.
—Rita Pelczar, Better Homes & Gardens, 27 Jan. 2026
The site is very private and being in the forest, there is a lot of screening from the native understory plants—huckleberry, wild rhododendrons, wax myrtle, and sword ferns.
—Sarah Yang, Sunset Magazine, 30 Aug. 2023
Hunt the Clear-Cuts Does like to bed down in cover such as broom sedge, young sweetgums and wax myrtle, which start growing within a year or two after an area has been cleared of timber.
67.
—Outdoor Life, 19 Nov. 2019
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Madeline Buiano, Martha Stewart, 17 Feb. 2026
This includes camellias, azaleas, boxwoods, gardenias, and wax myrtles.
—Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 4 Feb. 2026
Other good sources of winter food for robins include wild blueberries, hackberry, American beautyberry, possumhaw, wax myrtle, and holly.
—Rita Pelczar, Better Homes & Gardens, 27 Jan. 2026
The site is very private and being in the forest, there is a lot of screening from the native understory plants—huckleberry, wild rhododendrons, wax myrtle, and sword ferns.
—Sarah Yang, Sunset Magazine, 30 Aug. 2023
Hunt the Clear-Cuts Does like to bed down in cover such as broom sedge, young sweetgums and wax myrtle, which start growing within a year or two after an area has been cleared of timber.
67.
—Outdoor Life, 19 Nov. 2019
Cite this Entry
“Wax myrtle.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/wax%20myrtle. Accessed 27 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
