Myrtus communis (Common Myrtle)
Common Myrtle, Myrtle, True Myrtle
Symbol of beauty and love in the past, award-winning Myrtus communis (Common Myrtle) is a bushy medium-sized evergreen shrub with small, aromatic, glossy green leaves, which release a pleasant fragrance when crushed. A profusion of fragrant, showy white flowers, 1 in. across (2 cm), bloom from mid-spring to early summer before giving way to purplish-black berries. Always neat and tidy, this Mediterranean native is very easy to grow and useful in water-wise plantings. All in all, a coveted garden plant.
- Awarded the prestigious Award of Garden Merit by the Royal Horticultural Society
- Grows in a rounded medium-sized, shrub up to 8-12 ft. tall and wide (240-360 cm) but this Myrtle is usually kept smaller with pruning.
- Easily grown in moist, well-drained soils in full sun or light shade. Provide a sheltered location, protected from cold winter winds. This plant requires a long hot summer to produce flowers and fruits
- Drought tolerant and deer resistant. Moderate tolerance to frost.
- Great for wall-side borders, shrub borders, hedges, city gardens, cottage gardens, Mediterranean gardens, or even containers
- Virtually disease and pest free
- Propagate by seed or semi-hardwood cuttings
Buy Myrtus communis (Common Myrtle)
Requirements
| Hardiness | 8
– 9 |
|---|---|
| Heat Zones | 8
– 9 |
| Climate Zones | 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, H1, H2 |
| Plant Type | Shrubs |
| Exposure | Full Sun |
| Season of Interest |
Spring (Mid,Late) Summer (Early) |
| Height | 8' – 12' (240cm – 3.6m) |
| Spread | 8' – 12' (240cm – 3.6m) |
| Spacing | 144" (360cm) |
| Water Needs | Low, Average |
| Maintenance | Low |
| Soil Type | Chalk, Clay, Loam, Sand |
| Soil pH | Acid, Alkaline, Neutral |
| Soil Drainage | Moist but Well-Drained |
| Characteristics | Fragrant, Plant of Merit, Showy, Evergreen |
| Tolerance | Deer, Drought |
| Garden Uses | Beds and Borders, Hedges and Screens, Patio and Containers, Wall-Side Borders |
| Garden Styles | City and Courtyard, Coastal Garden, Informal and Cottage, Mediterranean Garden, Prairie and Meadow |
Alternative Plants to Consider
Recommended Companion Plants
Find In One of Our Guides or Gardens
tamara1k /stegarau / cokemomo / 123RF Banque d'images
While every effort has been made to describe these plants accurately, please keep in mind that height, bloom time, and color may differ in various climates. The description of these plants has been written based on numerous outside resources.
Requirements
| Hardiness | 8
– 9 |
|---|---|
| Heat Zones | 8
– 9 |
| Climate Zones | 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, H1, H2 |
| Plant Type | Shrubs |
| Exposure | Full Sun |
| Season of Interest |
Spring (Mid,Late) Summer (Early) |
| Height | 8' – 12' (240cm – 3.6m) |
| Spread | 8' – 12' (240cm – 3.6m) |
| Spacing | 144" (360cm) |
| Water Needs | Low, Average |
| Maintenance | Low |
| Soil Type | Chalk, Clay, Loam, Sand |
| Soil pH | Acid, Alkaline, Neutral |
| Soil Drainage | Moist but Well-Drained |
| Characteristics | Fragrant, Plant of Merit, Showy, Evergreen |
| Tolerance | Deer, Drought |
| Garden Uses | Beds and Borders, Hedges and Screens, Patio and Containers, Wall-Side Borders |
| Garden Styles | City and Courtyard, Coastal Garden, Informal and Cottage, Mediterranean Garden, Prairie and Meadow |
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