Visitor Education Center (VEC)
About Us The Visitor Education Center (VEC)
at the North Mississippi Fish Wax myrtle bushes Hatchery is the first and only facility of its kind in Mississippi. It is owned Planting Tips: and operated by the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, Wax myrtles can be propagated and Parks. from cuttings or seeds. This plant In addition to the native habitat likes full sun, but it will tolerate area, the VEC features a 10,000 Flowers partial shade. A hardy plant, the gallon aquarium, interactive wax myrtle will grow in wet, dry, exhibits, displays, artifacts, fishing and sandy conditions once it has rodeo pond, gift shop and gallery, MISSISSIPPI taken root. The wax myrtle will and the World Record White NATIVE: spread by growing new shoots Crappie. All of these elements serve WAX MYRTLE from the roots of a larger plant. as entertaining and engaging learning experiences for all visitors. These shrubs grow quickly, so (Myrica cerifera) frequent trimming is necessary to The VEC promotes the sport of freshwater fishing in Mississippi, maintain a particular height. New NMFH Visitor and encourages the conservation growth is evident by a bright and stewardship of aquatic Education Center green color and is easily broken resources. The facility offers guided Phone: (662) 563-8068 from the original branches. and self-guided tours along with a Web: www.mdwfp.com myriad of programs and workshops Address: P.O. Box 100, 457 for the public. CR 36, Enid, MS 38927
Contact Us Size: These shrubs reach heights and widths of 15 feet or more. The leaves range from 1 ½ inches to 4 ½ inches long. Fruit clusters may
be 1/8 of an inch wide. Wax Green berries myrtles can grow up to 5 feet Ripe berry clusters per year. Description/Season: Interesting Facts: The wax myrtle is a broadleaf, Other Names: The leaves have a spicy fragrance evergreen shrub with multiple and are still used today for candle trunks. Leaves are glossy and olive Southern Wax Myrtle, scents. Berries were once boiled green. The bark on some of the Bayberry, and Candle Berry and used as wax for candles. The shrubs develops into a grayish- wax myrtle provides excellent white color. This evergreen cover and food for birds and other produces very small flowers in the wildlife. The VEC finds numerous early spring, which last through Habitat: mockingbird and wren nests in June. Wax myrtles are very drought the branches of this shrub. The tolerant and are found in various wax myrtles are highly flammable Small clusters of berries coated and spread quickly. with wax replace these flowers. types of habitats. Only female plants produce berries, as long as male plants are nearby. The wax myrtle produces berries beginning in late summer.
These berries remain through the Information Sources: Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center, MSU Extension, Clemson.edu, USDA, and VEC winter. Berries start out green and Staff. Pictures taken at the VEC (Wiggins, E.J.); turn pale blue in the winter. property of MDWFP.