Join the RHS

Find a plant – quick search

Where are Plant Finder & Plant Selector?

Where are Plant Finder & Plant Selector?

We have combined these two powerful search tools into a single Find a Plant service searching over 250,000 plant records.

Virtually all of the features of the old searches are still available and in addition we have added several new features to create a more comprehensive and user friendly search experience.

When using this search

  • If you enter just a plant name, you will see results from the old RHS Plant Finder and Selector databases
  • If you select any attributes with or without a plant name, you will see a much narrower selection of results taken only from the old RHS Plant Selector database. These plants will have a lot more details displayed including an image.
  • Our Botanical team are working hard to increase the number of plants with detailed information.

Search by plant name, key attributes or both to find plant details and a list of suppliers.

 
  • 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
Need more criteria? Try an advanced search
Back to search results

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
RHS Plant Shop from £19.99 Sold by 60 nurseries

  • 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 Flower

  • 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 West-facing or South-facing

  • Exposure Sheltered

Soil

  • Chalk

    Chalk

  • Sand

    Sand

  • Clay

    Clay

  • Loam

    Loam

  • MoistureMoist but well-drained

  • SoilChalk, Sand, Clay, 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

Did you find the information you were looking for?

RHS members can get exclusive individual advice from the RHS Gardening Advice team.

Join the RHS now

RHS Plants Shop

Myrtus communis

common myrtle

Buy from £19.99 at the RHS Plants Shop

Buy from £19.99 at the RHS Plants Shop

Get involved

The Royal Horticultural Society is the UK’s leading gardening charity. We aim to enrich everyone’s life through plants, and make the UK a greener and more beautiful place.