wax myrtle

noun
1.
an aromatic shrub, Myrica cerifera, of the southeastern U.S., bearing small berries coated with wax that is sometimes used in making candles.
Compare bayberry.
Origin
1800-10
Examples from the web for wax myrtle
  • Shrubs include wax myrtle, red bay and groundsel tree.
  • wax myrtle, often entangled with greenbrier, make parts of the area impenetrable.
  • It also helps to control encroaching vegetation, such as wax myrtle, that grows quickly and can overtake other vegetation.
  • Evergreens with high levels of volatile tree oil are: cedar, yaupon, wax myrtle and rosemary.
British Dictionary definitions for wax myrtle

wax myrtle

noun
1.
a shrub, Myrica cerifera, of SE North America, having evergreen leaves and a small berry-like fruit with a waxy coating: family Myricaceae Also called bayberry, candleberry, waxberry