Myrtle
Myrtus communis
A fragrant evergreen that shapes into dense hedges, feeds pollinators and yields edible berries. Tough once established, but young plants sulk in hard frost.
Myrtle in a syntropic line
Myrtle belongs in the Shrub layer as a Climax species. Support species, fruit, and nitrogen fixers under the canopy. Rough in-row spacing starts around 1.4 m in a syntropic row. Good line partners include Common sage, Common Wormwood. As a Climax species it is meant to stay for the long term — protect its light and root space as pioneers fade.
Tolerances and growing conditions
- Strata
- Shrub
- Lifecycle
- Climax
- Soil preference
- Loam, Sandy, Rocky
- Soil pH range
- 5.5 – 7.5
- Min. temperature
- -10°C
- Min. rainfall
- 450 mm/year
- Wind tolerance
- High
- Frost tolerance
- Medium
- Growth rate
- Medium
- Irrigation needed
- Medium
- Foliage
- Evergreen
- Waterlogging tolerance
- Low
- Origin
- Mediterranean
- Native to Portugal
- Yes
How to manage it
Aromatic evergreen for hedges, edible berries and pollinators; clips well and resprouts fast after cutting, so shape it hard each year.
How to propagate
Take softwood cuttings in summer or hardwood in winter; both root readily.
Guidance, not a guarantee — success varies by species and skill.
What to watch out for
Young plants are frost-tender and want shelter in their first winters; berries are edible but avoid ingesting large amounts of the essential-oil-rich leaves.
Frequently asked questions about Myrtle
Is myrtle frost-hardy?
Yes for winter cold in many climates — generally hardy to around -10°C when dormant, with medium frost tolerance in the catalog. Flowering crops can still lose a season to late frost, so site them carefully.
What soil does myrtle need?
It does best on loam, sandy, rocky ground, at pH about 5.5–7.5.
How much water does myrtle need?
Plan for a rainfall floor around 450 mm/year, plus medium irrigation once established.
Can myrtle handle wet or waterlogged soil?
Poorly — myrtle has low waterlogging tolerance, so keep it off winter-wet clay and standing water.
What should I watch out for with myrtle?
Young plants are frost-tender and want shelter in their first winters; berries are edible but avoid ingesting large amounts of the essential-oil-rich leaves.
Myrtle in soil templates
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