Myrica cerifera, commonly called wax myrtle or bayberry, has a historical use tied to New Year’s Eve. Dr. Susan Pell shares about the history and use of this plant. Do you use it in your New Year’s Eve traditions? | U.S. Botanic Garden

Wax Myrtle Morella cerifera Commonly known as Southern Wax Myrtle or Southern Bayberry, Morella cerifera is a large evergreen shrub that typically grows to 8-15ft tall and 4-10ft wide, depending on conditions and cultivars. It is found in a variety of habitats including various wetlands, inter dune swales, pine flatwoods and sandhills. This fast-growing and adaptable shrub is also nitrogen-fixing, and has become more widely used in commercial and residential landscaping in recent years. We have