Pacific Wax Myrtle Hedges for Privacy & Habitat

By Sound Native Plants Staff | July 14, 2024 |

Feeling Bored of "Traditional" Hedges?

Of course you are!

Why battle an outdated, shaggy, green wall when you could have a fruitful, lush, wildlife hotel instead? If you're looking to support your ecosystem and add some privacy to your property, consider Pacific wax myrtle as part of your new evergreen hedgerow!

Photo of Morella californica with berries

Morella californica by David A. Hofmann on Flickr

Most landscaping needs can be fulfilled by native plants instead of non-native ornamental species!

Our Subbing Native Plants into my Landscape blog series highlights ecosystem services provided by plants native to the Pacific Northwest and encourages replacing traditional landscaping species with natives.

Native plants have evolved with their surrounding environment and as a result, are oftentimes more resilient and low-maintenance than ornamental plants. Plants native to this region fulfill niche roles that serve the rest of the ecosystem. They can provide food and shelter for wildlife, reinforce degraded soils, and oh so much more! It is important to utilize native plants in your landscape whenever possible to best support your local environment.

Photo of Myrica californica leaves by Born1945

Leaves of Pacific wax myrtle

Hedgerows Offer Stellar Privacy and Wildlife Habitat to your Landscape

What is a Hedgerow (Hedge)?

A hedge is a form of natural fencing with green-cottage vibes. They are made of plants installed in a line that grow up to create barriers, mostly utilized for privacy, shade, and wind disruption.

Unruly laurel hedge

The Traditional Ornamental Selection: English Laurel

English laurel (Prunus laurocerasus) is commonly used in hedges. Despite its name, English laurel is native to southeastern Europe and southwestern Asia. They grow as a large shrub or small tree. Their mature height ranges depending on conditions and cultivar, reported from 24-60 feet.

English laurel will spread wide as well as high, with a reach of more than 8 feet. Speaking from personal experience, these plants need regular trimming in our region, otherwise they take over and make a massive green mess.

What if your hedge could be more than a stylized visual barrier?

For a Hedgerow, Instead of English Laurel, try Pacific Wax Myrtle!

Pacific Wax Myrtle (Morella californica)

Myrica californica hedge

This beauty grows in great profusion on Washington’s coastline. A hearty evergreen shrub, wax myrtle grows quickly, tolerates full sun, requires little water, and thrives in poor soil. They work to bolster soils and support neighboring plants by fixing nitrogen from the atmosphere into the earth. These attributes make it a perfect addition to urbanized landscapes. The branches bear clusters of small creamy flowers in the spring that develop into wrinkly purple berries. In the warm sun, Pacific wax myrtle produces a mild, spicy fragrance.

Privacy

Pacific wax myrtle typically grows to a mature height of about 15 feet, though it may attain greater height in ideal conditions. This shrub takes well to pruning and has a thick habit, making it super for evergreen hedges and screening applications. If installing a hedge, we encourage using a variety of plants to increase biodiversity! Consider planting Pacific wax myrtle with Ceanothus, Frangula, or Manzanita species.

Learn more about planting hedgerows with our friends at the Native Plant Salvage Foundation!

Habitat

The dense foliage of Pacific wax myrtle provides shelter to birds, insects, and small mammals. Their berries are an important winter food source for native birds and flowers provide nectar for native bees. Myrica is also valued by bats, moths, and butterflies. A specialty of this species is that they are resistant to deer; the waxy coating on leaves and berries reduce palatability, and even if they do get munched, the branch will resiliently regrow!

From our Species Descriptions

Morella californica (Myrica californica), Pacific wax-myrtle

Exposure: Full sun to shade

Soil moisture: Moist but well-drained

Salinity tolerance: High

Fire tolerance: Low

Transplanting success: High

Growth rate: Moderate to rapid

Form: Broadleaf evergreen shrub to 15 feet

Pacific wax myrtle is typically found on the coast in sandy soils. It can do well inland with similar soil conditions. Given enough water, it is the fastest growing evergreen shrub in our inventory (when we operated a native plant nursery, closed in 2022). Click here for more photographs of this species on the University of Washington Herbarium website.

For a breakdown of terms used in this plant description, visit our Terms Definition page, here.

If you have a hedge of English laurel or another species not native to your Pacific Northwest ecoregion, consider substituting it for Pacific wax myrtle. After the switch, you'll enjoy an abundance of ecosystem services and support your environment -- great work!

Sources

Hedgerows

www.nativeplantsalvage.org/hedgerows

English laurel

www.britannica.com/plant/cherry-laurel

www.rhs.org.uk/plants/13977/prunus-laurocerasus/details