Myrtus communis
Myrtle
Common names: Common Myrtle, True Myrtle, Bridal Myrtle
At a glance
- Light
- Full sun
- Pot size
- from 30 l
- Lifespan
- Perennial
- Flowering
- Jun–Aug
- Hardiness
- Cold damage below −5 °C
- Water need
- Medium
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This description was machine-translated.
Description
Myrtle, botanically Myrtus communis, grows wild in the scrub of the Mediterranean region and is a popular container plant in Central Europe. This evergreen, densely branched shrub bears small, leathery, glossy dark green leaves that release an aromatic scent when crushed. From June to August it opens white flowers with a tuft of conspicuous stamens, and blue-black berries may follow in autumn. In a container, myrtle usually reaches 0.5 to 1.5 m in height and can be easily trained into a ball, a pyramid, or a standard (small tree form). Place it within reach of a seating area so you can brush past the leaves in passing and enjoy the fragrance. The name Bridal Myrtle recalls the old custom of binding myrtle sprigs into bridal wreaths and wedding bouquets. It tolerates frost only briefly, so it should be overwintered in a bright, cool place.
Care instructions
Move the myrtle outdoors after the Ice Saints, in mid-May (from calendar week 20), to a sunny, warm spot. It also grows in light partial shade, but flowers less profusely there. Plant it in permeable container plant soil with a drainage hole. Water evenly so the root ball never dries out completely, since drought causes leaf drop and waterlogging causes root rot. Use rainwater or standing soft water whenever possible. From April to August, fertilize every two to three weeks. Prune the myrtle in spring to shape it before new growth begins. Common mistakes include overwintering in a space that is too warm and dark, where aphids and spider mites appear, and moving it outdoors too early.
The care notes were machine-translated from German.
Garden year
FloweringJun–Aug
Soil & site
Soil pH
Soil type
well-drained, humus-rich, sandy, loamy, lime-avoiding
Myrtle needs a well-drained, humus-rich container plant compost, into which you mix some sand or lava granules. It prefers low-lime soil; a pH in the slightly acidic to neutral range is ideal. Soft water such as rainwater suits the plant better than very hard tap water. Drainage is what matters: in the pot, the drainage holes must stay clear, and a drainage layer of expanded clay at the bottom prevents waterlogging. Every two to three years, repot it into fresh soil in spring.
Feeding
Medium feeder
Months
Apr–Aug
From April to August, give myrtle a liquid feed for container plants every two to three weeks, rather sparingly. In spring you can also scatter some mature compost or horn shavings on the soil and work them in lightly. From the end of August, stop feeding so the shoots ripen before winter. No feeding in winter quarters.
Pruning
Myrtle tolerates pruning very well and also shoots again from old wood. Cut it back to the desired shape in March or April, before new growth begins, and remove frozen or bare shoots. The harder you cut back, the more densely it regrows. For balls, pyramids and standards, trim the fresh shoots lightly in summer, so the shape stays sharp.
Overwintering
Myrtle tolerates only brief, light frost down to about minus 5 degrees. Bring it in in late autumn, at the latest before the first sustained frost. A bright, cool spot at 5 to 10 degrees is ideal, for example in a conservatory or a bright stairwell. Water sparingly; the root ball should just not dry out completely, and ventilate on frost-free days. Dark and cool works too, but then it drops some of its leaves. Check for scale insects and spider mites. In May it may go back outside, gradually getting used to the sun.
Propagation
Methods
- Cuttings
The easiest way to propagate myrtle is by cuttings. Between July and September, cut semi-ripe shoot tips about 8 to 10 cm long, remove the lower leaves and insert them in a mix of seed compost and sand. Put the pot somewhere bright but out of full sun, at 18 to 22 degrees, and keep the air humid with a clear dome. Rooting takes four to eight weeks. Overwinter the young plants bright and cool and pot them on in spring. Forms with special leaves are also preserved this way.
For your garden
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