Plant Profile

Myrtus communis (Myrtle)

This beautiful evergreen shrub or small tree with a round, compact and spreading shape is a true Mediterranean species that is native to Europe. It has been cultivated since Biblical times both as a commercial source of perfume oil and as a garden plant. In the wild it can be found on poor soils in protected locations. It has a small, pointed, glossy bright-green leaves are held on a dense, twiggy structure. When clipped, the leaves release fragrant oils. Myrtle blooms in early summer, bearing abundant, small, white flowers with beautiful fluffy stamens. The flowers are fragrant and followed by small black berries that mature in the fall. This shrub prefers less fertile soils and good drainage is essential, as is occasional deep watering for maximized drought tolerance. If pruned into a single or multiple trunk in youth, this shrub can produce a lovely small tree with gnarled twisted branching. When left natural it will develop a dense habit that is ideal for privacy screening or use as a windbreak. It withstands maritime exposure extremely well. Myrtle is a great alternative to boxwood in the xeriscape garden and an essential part of any Mediterranean landscape scheme.

  • Landscape Information
  • Botanical Description
  • Horticulture Management
  • By Giancarlo Dessì (Posted by --gian_d 16:41, 17 June 2007 (UTC)) [GFDL (http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html), CC-BY-SA-3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/) or CC BY-SA 2.5 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.5)], via Wikimedia Commons
  • Forest & Kim Starr [CC BY 3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons
  • Khaled Sleem
  • By Raffi Kojian (http://Gardenology.org) [CC BY-SA 3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons
By Giancarlo Dessì (Posted by --gian_d 16:41, 17 June 2007 (UTC)) [GFDL (http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html), CC-BY-SA-3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/) or CC BY-SA 2.5 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.5)], via Wikimedia Commons

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  • By Giancarlo Dessì (Posted by --gian_d 16:41, 17 June 2007 (UTC)) [GFDL (http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html), CC-BY-SA-3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/) or CC BY-SA 2.5 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.5)], via Wikimedia Commons
  • Forest & Kim Starr [CC BY 3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons
  • Khaled Sleem
  • By Raffi Kojian (http://Gardenology.org) [CC BY-SA 3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons
By Giancarlo Dessì (Posted by --gian_d 16:41, 17 June 2007 (UTC)) [GFDL (http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html), CC-BY-SA-3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/) or CC BY-SA 2.5 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.5)], via Wikimedia Commons

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  • By Giancarlo Dessì (Posted by --gian_d 16:41, 17 June 2007 (UTC)) [GFDL (http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html), CC-BY-SA-3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/) or CC BY-SA 2.5 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.5)], via Wikimedia Commons
  • Forest & Kim Starr [CC BY 3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons
  • Khaled Sleem
  • By Raffi Kojian (http://Gardenology.org) [CC BY-SA 3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons
By Giancarlo Dessì (Posted by --gian_d 16:41, 17 June 2007 (UTC)) [GFDL (http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html), CC-BY-SA-3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/) or CC BY-SA 2.5 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.5)], via Wikimedia Commons

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