The Common Myrtle, or Myrtus communis, is a broadleaf evergreen shrub or small tree belonging to the Myrtaceae family. Native to the Mediterranean region, it has been cultivated for millennia, featuring prominently in ancient Greek and Roman traditions where it symbolized love, honor, and peace. Its fragrant foliage makes it a distinctive specimen, valued in ornamental landscaping and traditional uses.
General Growth Habit and Foliage
The Common Myrtle typically grows as a dense, upright shrub, though it can mature into a small tree, often reaching heights between 5 and 15 feet. Older plants develop a smooth, gray-brown bark that eventually begins to peel in attractive segments, revealing lighter, tan-colored inner layers. This feature gives the lower structure of the plant a textured, multi-hued appearance with age.
The dense foliage is one of the plant’s most recognizable features, maintaining its dark green color year-round. Leaves are small, measuring about 1 to 2 inches in length, and are usually ovate to lanceolate in shape with pointed tips. They possess a leathery texture and a pronounced glossy sheen on the upper surface, contributing to the plant’s lush look.
The leaves are typically held opposite each other along the stem. When a leaf is held up to the light, numerous tiny, translucent dots become visible across its surface. These dots are the essential oil glands responsible for the strong, spicy-sweet aroma released when the leaves are bruised or crushed, defining the true myrtle.
The Characteristics of Myrtle Flowers and Berries
The myrtle blooms during the summer, typically from late spring through mid-summer. The flowers appear singly on slender stalks arising from the leaf axils, creating a light, airy effect across the dark foliage. Each flower is relatively small, measuring about three-quarters of an inch to just over an inch in diameter.
The blossoms are usually pure white, sometimes with a faint pink tinge, and are intensely fragrant. Their structure is defined by five small petals and a striking abundance of long, prominent stamens tipped with yellow anthers. These numerous stamens protrude outward, giving the flowers a distinctive, fluffy, “powder-puff” appearance that attracts pollinators like bees.
The myrtle produces small, rounded berries that ripen in the fall and often persist into the winter. The most common fruit is a dark blue or purplish-black berry, approximately 9 to 12 millimeters in diameter, containing several seeds. A less common variety, Myrtus communis ‘Leucocarpa,’ produces berries that ripen to a pale, yellowish-white color.
Distinguishing True Myrtle from Common Namesakes
The name “myrtle” is commonly applied to several botanically unrelated plants, leading to frequent confusion. To confirm the identity of Myrtus communis, it is helpful to note the distinct differences from its most popular namesakes, such as Crepe Myrtle and Wax Myrtle.
Crepe Myrtle (Lagerstroemia) is deciduous, unlike the evergreen true myrtle. Its flowers are large, showy, and ruffled, appearing in clusters of pink, red, purple, or white. This contrasts sharply with the small, single, white flowers of Myrtus communis. Furthermore, Crepe Myrtle produces dry, woody capsules as fruit, not fleshy berries.
Wax Myrtle (Myrica or Morella) is also an evergreen shrub, but its leaves lack the glossy, leathery texture and the translucent oil glands found in Common Myrtle. Most notably, the Wax Myrtle produces clusters of small, gray-blue berries coated in a thick, waxy layer, a feature absent from the true myrtle’s smooth-skinned fruit.