In early summer, myrtle bears small white flowers that develop into purplish berries.
These are often used to make mirto, a bittersweet Sardinian and Corsican liqueur.
It is also drought-tolerant, deer-resistant, and amenable to frequent pruningwhich makes it an excellent choice forhedgesand topiaries.
Credit: Peter Krumhardt
In fact, its uses in landscapes are largely dependent on variety.
Dwarf cultivars (likeMyrtus communis compacta) are excellent in containers, asedging plants, or ascompact hedges.
Add myrtle to acottageorcoastal gardento enjoy its fragrant, showy white flowers in midspring and early summer.
Credit: Peter Krumhardt
Tease apart the plant’s roots with your fingers and place it in the hole.
Backfill the hole and water your plant thoroughly.
Place your myrtle plant in the pot and continue filling the pot with your prepared potting mix.
Tamp the soil down just enough to secure the plant and water thoroughly.
They require little to no maintenance once established and can live for decades in a welcoming environment.
Light
Outdoor myrtles thrive in full sunat least 6 hours a daybut can tolerate light shade.
Credit: Peter Krumhardt
Indoor myrtles also require a lot of light.
Place your plant in a south-, east-, or west-facing window to catch the most daylight.
Be mindful of the fluctuations in heat and light exposure between seasons.
Credit: Denny Schrock
Outdoor myrtles should be watered regularly when young.
Older myrtles are moredrought-tolerant.
Avoid overwatering as myrtles are prone to root rot and yellow leaves when grown in excessively wet soil.
Credit: Courtesy of IFG
Saturate the soil with water and allow the excess to drain away.
Myrtles grown as trees may benefit from an software of balanced fertilizer every 2 to 3 years.
Once established, myrtles take well to hard pruning and can be trimmed into a topiary or custom shape.
Credit: Peter Krumhardt
After the blooms have faded, remove some of the oldest branches or crossed stems to encourage airflow.
Potting and Repotting
Young myrtles should berepotted every 1 to 2 yearsdepending on their growth rate.
Older myrtles can wait 3 to 5 years.
If your myrtle is too large to repot, refresh the soil every spring to keep the plant vibrant.
Simply remove the top several inches of potting soil and replace it with fresh soil.
Water your plant thoroughly and allow the water to soak in.
Remove the plant from its container and inspect the roots.
Prune away any rotted or diseased roots and untangle the rest.
Place your myrtle in its new pot and fill the pot with your fresh soil mix.
Both indoor and outdoor myrtle may sufferroot rotin soggy soil.
Remove the leaves from the base of the cutting and dip it in powdered rooting hormone.
Place a plastic bag over the container and keep it in an area withbright, indirect light.
A heating pad designed for seed germination works well for this task.
Like other myrtles, it has fragrant white flowers and foliage that is aromatic when crushed.
The dash of white brightens the landscape and provides a wonderful contrast to the ripening berries.
Variegated myrtle eventually grows 8-10 feet tall in zones 8-11.
If unpruned, it produces small white flowers in the summer and little black berries.
Boxwoods grow best in full sun and evenly moist, well-drained soil.
They are frequently used as hedges or as garden borders.
Catmint
Catmintis a perennial powerhouse and easy to grow in zones 3-9.
Grapes tolerate a variety of soil types, but fare best in well-draining soil.
Like myrtle, grapes prefer all-day access to sun, so choose an area with ample exposure.
Russian Sage
Russian sageis an herbaceous perennial that is hardy in zones 4-9.
Like myrtle, it prefers full sun and well-drained soil.
All parts of Russian sage are quite fragrant when rubbed or crushed.
So, alongside myrtle, it will draw a plethora of pollinators to your garden.
In the right climate and with proper care, common myrtle can live 100 to 200 years or more.
The two are unrelated, but both have aromatic twigs, leaves, and flowers.
