Birds are attracted to wax myrtles, which they use for food and shelter. The waxy berries were used for making candles in Colonial times. Wax myrtles make good beach plants, since they tolerate drought, sand, sun and salt spray. Plant shrubs in partial shade to full sun. They do not require a lot of maintenance.
Wax myrtles are sensitive to cold.
Cold symptoms include browning of leaves and sometimes defoliation, but stem tissue is not injured. They have no serious plant diseases or insect pests. Georgia Gem' is a small, compact mounded form, used as a groundcover. It will grow 12 to 18 inches high and 30 to 36 inches wide with yellow-green to dark olive green leaves that are smaller than the species. This deciduous to semi-evergreen shrub is more cold hardy than wax myrtle.