Oak-leafed waxberry


Oak-leafed waxberry

Morella quercifolia

Scientific name

Small shrubby plant with upright stems, flat elongated leaves with irregular oak-like edging, and a yellow flower in winter.

Pioneer species used for stabilisation and re-vegetation especially on sandy soils but it grows in loamy soils too. Requires sun or partial shade and does best with compost, mulch and water.

Attracts birds and insects but requires both male and female plant to produce berry fruit but wind-pollinated.

Grow from seeds or cuttings taken in spring. Use semi-hardwood sections and rooting hormone.

Medicinal use includes treating stomach ache as recorded by early settlers.

Previously Myrica quercifolia

References and further reading

Learn more »

Image credit: magrietb
We currently have no seeds of this species in our seedbanks. Do you have any seeds or do you know where we can get some? Get in touch!
We currently have no plants of this species in our home nurseries. Do you have any plants or do you know where we can get some? Get in touch!

This table below shows how many plants we are trying to obtain for this species.

Site Area Quantity
Site #62 Newlands 7
Total 7

Important characteristics

Conservation status: Least Concern

This species was selected because it has various important characteristics.

This is a bird-friendly species

It provides medicinal value

Morella quercifolia is indigenous to: Cape Flats Sand Fynbos Cape Flats Dune Strandveld

Communitree Newsletter

Receive our monthly updates in your mailbox

Our sponsors

We thank our 2019 sponsors for their support in our work. If your company or organisation wants to help support Communitree, click here to get in touch.