Pacific waxmyrtle
Myrica californica
Last reviewed: August 2026
Light
full sun
Water
medium
Size
96"–300" H × 96"–180" W
Bloom
Mar, Apr
Native to
CA, OR, WA
Pollinators
wind-pollinated
Before you buy
Your city may pay you to plant this
Cities and water utilities offer rebates for replacing lawn with native and water-wise plants. We track 431 programs across 44 states, each with a link to the provider and the date we last checked it.
Find rebates in your areaA dense, glossy-leaved evergreen shrub or small tree with aromatic leaves and inconspicuous flowers followed by small waxy blue-gray berries. It forms a tidy, screening hedge along the coast and tolerates salt spray well.
Wildlife value
The waxy berries are an unusual high-fat food source that sustains yellow-rumped warblers and other birds through winter.
Common questions
- How much sun does Pacific waxmyrtle need?
- Pacific waxmyrtle grows best in full sun conditions.
- When does Pacific waxmyrtle bloom?
- Pacific waxmyrtle blooms in March and April.
- Where is Pacific waxmyrtle native?
- Pacific waxmyrtle (Myrica californica) is native to CA, OR, WA, per the World Checklist of Vascular Plants (Kew).
- What pollinators does Pacific waxmyrtle attract?
- Pacific waxmyrtle draws wind-pollinated.
Native range data from the World Checklist of Vascular Plants (Kew). Pollinator and host plant associations compiled from GBIF, iNaturalist, and published ecological literature.
Ready to grow Pacific waxmyrtle? Add it to your garden in Pollinator Patch to track it and get season-by-season care guidance.
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