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Myrtus communis

common myrtle

AGM plants

AGM plants have been through a rigorous trial and assessment programme. They are:

  • Excellent for ordinary use in appropriate conditions
  • Available to buy
  • Of good constitution
  • Essentially stable in form & colour
  • Reasonably resistant to pests & diseases
common myrtle

© RHS 1998

55 suppliers RHS Plant Shop from £17.99

  • Other common names common myrtle
    myrtle

  • Family Myrtaceae

  • Genus Myrtus are evergreen shrubs or small trees with aromatic, leathery leaves and solitary, bowl-shaped white flowers followed by fleshy, often edible berries

  • Details M. communis is a bushy medium-sized evergreen shrub with small, aromatic, ovate leaves and profuse white flowers 2cm in width, followed by purplish-black berries

  • Plant range Mediterranean

Characteristics

  • Foliage Evergreen

  • Habit Bushy

  • Fragrance Leaf

  • Hardiness

    Hardiness ratings

    All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets

    • H1a - Under glass all year (>15C)
    • H1b - Can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
    • H1c - Can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
    • H2 - Tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
    • H3 - Hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
    • H4 - Hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
    • H5 - Hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
    • H6 - Hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
    • H7 - Hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20)

    H4

Colour

Sunlight

  • Full Sun

  • Aspect South-facing or West-facing

  • Exposure Sheltered

Soil

  • Chalk

    Chalk

  • Clay

    Clay

  • Sand

    Sand

  • Loam

    Loam

  • MoistureMoist but well-drained

  • SoilChalk, Clay, Sand, Loam

  • pHAcid, Alkaline, Neutral

Size

  • Ultimate height 1.5-2.5 metres

  • Ultimate spread 1.5-2.5 metres

  • Time to ultimate height 10-20 years

How to grow

Cultivation Grow outdoors in moist but well-drained soil, shelter from cold dry winds. Under glass grow in a loam-based compost in filtered light with good ventilation. Requires a long hot summer to produce flowers and fruits

Propagation Propagate by seed or semi-hardwood cuttings

Suggested planting locations and garden types Flower borders and beds Hedging & Screens Low Maintenance Wall-side Borders City & Courtyard Gardens Coastal Cottage & Informal Garden Mediterranean Climate Plants

How to care

Pruning Pruning group 9

Pests Generally pest free

Diseases Generally disease free

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Myrtus communis

common myrtle

Buy from £17.99 at the RHS Plants Shop

Buy from £17.99 at the RHS Plants Shop

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