Gardening Trees, Shrubs & Vines Shrubs Myrtle By Viveka Neveln Viveka Neveln Instagram Viveka Neveln is the Garden Editor at BHG and a degreed horticulturist with broad gardening expertise earned over 3+ decades of practice and study. She has more than 20 years of experience writing and editing for both print and digital media. Learn about BHG's Editorial Process Updated on February 2, 2017 Share Tweet Pin Email Myrtle Overview Description An evergreen shrub from the Mediterranean and Middle East, myrtle has long been used as a symbol of love. It has dark green, glossy leaves, and in early summer it bears small white flowers that develop into edible purplish berries. Myrtle can be sheared or pruned frequently, making it an excellent choice for hedges and topiaries. Avoid overwatering the plant; it often develops yellow leaves if the soil is excessively wet. Genus Name Myrtus communis Common Name Myrtle Plant Type Herb, Shrub Light Part Sun, Sun Height 3 to 8 feet Width 3 to 6 feet Flower Color White Season Features Summer Bloom Special Features Cut Flowers, Fragrance, Good for Containers, Low Maintenance Zones 10, 11, 8, 9 Propagation Stem Cuttings Problem Solvers Drought Tolerant, Good For Privacy More varieties for myrtle Twisted myrtle Myrtus communis 'Boetica' gets it name from the contorted growth of its trunk and branches, which grow 6-10 feet tall and 4-8 feet wide. Its dark green leaves are cupped, and because they have almost no petiole, they appear to hug the stem. Like other myrtles, it has fragrant white flowers and foliage that is aromatic when crushed. Zones 8-11 Variegated myrtle Myrtus communis 'Variegata' has the same aromatic white flowers and fragrant foliage as the species, but its leaves have creamy-white margins. The dash of white brightens the landscape and provides a wonderful contrast to the ripening berries. Variegated myrtle eventually grows 8-10 feet tall. Zones 8-11 ideas for growing some of our favorite trees and shrubs More Videos » Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit