Quite often I get asked questions about what type of plants are best for screening and what a good small tree to plant is. The answer I often give tongue in cheek is "It depends". The truth is that it does depend. It depends on whether or not you want a plant that has ornamental flowers, evergreen or deciduous foliage, attractive fruit, few pest problems, drought tolerance, moisture tolerance, slow or fast growth, and what the size requirements are. Anyway, I do have a plant suggestion for you that fits the bill as both a good hedge or screening plant and a small ornamental tree. Wax myrtle, Myrica cerifera, is a wonderful native plant that with the proper training can fill either of these requirements. It will also grow in either full sun or partial shade.

Wax myrtle is an evergreen shrub or small tree with a narrowly rounded crown. Reported maximum height and width seems to be about 30 feet high by 30 feet wide. In the landscape I think we can expect 20 feet high and 20 feet wide. Leaves are 1.5 to 3.5 inches long and .25 to .75 inches wide. Leaves tend to be narrowest at the base and widest just past the middle. Above the middle of the leaf you will find coarse saw-toothed margins. When crushed the leaves have a wonderful aromatic fragrance. The fragrance comes from the yellow-green glands found on the top of the leaves and the orange glands found on the bottom. The bark is light gray, smooth and thin. Flowers are small and not considered ornamental but occur in early spring and are yellow-green. Flowers yield to one-eighth inch light green fruit with attractive bluish-white wax that gives them a gray appearance. Fruit matures in the fall and remains in winter. Wax myrtle is also called bayberry since the wax can be separated from the fruit in boiling water to make fragrant candles.

Wax myrtles are commonly found in moist, sandy soil, in fresh or slightly brackish banks, swamps, flatwoods, pinelands, and even upland hardwood forests. This is quite an adaptable plant. It will stand moist or dry soil in the landscape. The native range of wax myrtle is from southern New Jersey and west to south Texas along the coast. It is found from sea level up to about 500 feet elevation. This plant even grows well in infertile soils, but, of course, it responds well to both water and fertilizer. The growth rate of wax myrtle is incredible. I have seen three to five feet a year.

The growth rate makes it a good screening plant because it screens so quickly. However, you must either give this plant room or prepare to shear several times a year to keep it in bounds. Can be kept to eight to twelve feet with frequent light pruning. If shearing to a hedge remember to keep the plant widest at the base so shading does not occur at the base of the plant and cause leaf drop.

I think this plant make a great small, ornamental, multi-stemmed tree when limbed up. Limbing up exposes the attractive gray bark and allows enjoyment of quick shade for a small patio.

If this plant has a negative feature, it is susceptible to splitting in ice and snow. However, it grows so fast that pruning of damaged wood followed by a good watering and fertilization program the following growing season will allow for good growth recovery. If the plant is too badly split, replacing is also an easy option since growth rate is fast. Be aware that wax myrtle produces root suckers easily. So don't use it in areas where the soil will be disturbed frequently by planting or working with annual or perennial flowers. Where roots are cut or damaged, new shoots are produced. If root suckers occur, prune them off in summer to reduce the likelihood of regrowth.

I recommend this plant for the uses listed above. I also suggest not to go crazy with it. Use it for screening where needed but don't surround an entire property with it. You wouldn't want an ice storm to take out your entire screen in one day. I see great potential for increased use as a small patio tree but again don't plant the area around you patio or deck with a monoculture of wax myrtle. Use this plant as an accent small tree by a patio where limbs can hang low to be brushed against for enjoyment of the fragrance.

If you have questions about other trees or shrubs to use in your yard, give the Pitt County Extension Master Gardener Volunteers a call at 757-2801 Extension 40. You can also find great gardening resources at www.ces.ncsu.edu/pitt/ag/hort