Leaf
Júlio Reis, Wikimedia · CC BY-SA 2.5
Common myrtle
Myrtus communis L.
Also known as: Myrtle
Family: Myrtaceae
1 to 3 m tall
Garrigue, dry gardens, hedges, well-drained soils
Flowering: June – July
Full sun
Hardy to -10°C
❓ How do you recognise this plant?
An ancient symbol of Venus and of love, it was used in Greek and Roman bridal wreaths.
🍃 Leaves
Evergreen, small, ovate, leathery, glossy dark green, very aromatic
🌸 Flowers
Star-shaped white flowers with numerous stamens, fragrant
🍎 Fruits
Small blue-black berries, aromatic, used in cooking
🪵 Bark
Reddish-brown bark peeling in thin strips
🗺️ Distribution
Mediterranean; found in the maquis of southern France (Corsica notably), widely cultivated elsewhere.
🐝 Value for pollinators
White flowers very rich in nectar and fragrant in summer, appreciated by bees.
✂️ Horticultural uses
Planted as a clipped hedge or in Mediterranean borders; aromatic foliage used in cooking and perfumery.
⚠️ Possible toxicity
No known toxicity; fruits edible, leaves aromatic.
🌿 Other Myrtaceae to discover
ℹ️ Educational profile — do not use it to judge whether a plant is edible or safe.
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