T r e e s  o f  N o r t h  C a r o l i n a

Morella Lour. (Myricaceae)

A genus of thirty to fifty species of trees and shrubs; north temperate.

Although a handful of species of Morella occur in North Carolina, only Morella cerifera (Common wax-myrtle) reaches small tree size. The species is native to the state.

Bark of Morella cerifera
Bark of Morella cerifera (Copyright W. Cook)
Twig of Morella cerifera
Twig of Morella cerifera (Copyright W. Cook)
Leaves of Morella cerifera
Leaves of Morella cerifera (Copyright W. Cook)
Flowers of Morella cerifera
Flowers of Morella cerifera (Copyright W. Cook)
Fruits of Morella cerifera
Fruits of Morella cerifera (Copyright W. Cook)
N.C. distribution of Morella cerifera
N.C. distribution of Morella cerifera

Morella cerifera (Common wax-myrtle)
(Common; interdune swales (where often dominant), pocosins, brackish marshes, other wet to moist habitats, now also widely planted (including in the Piedmont) as an ornamental or landscaping shrub and preistent or naturalizing in suburban woodlands; Pd, CP; Fl: Apr, Fr: Aug-Oct)