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Myrtle Wikimedia Commons
Myrtaceae

Myrtle

Myrtus communis

Love and marriage.

Family
Myrtaceae
Genus
Myrtus
Native to
Mediterranean, Southern Europe, North Africa
Bloom season
Summer
Type
evergreen shrub
Height
5-15 feet
Sunlight
full sun
Soil
well-drained, slightly acidic
Water
moderate
Hardiness
8-11
Lifespan
perennial

Did you know

  • Myrtle has been included in British royal wedding bouquets since Queen Victoria's era, starting a tradition that continues today.
  • In ancient Greece, myrtle was sacred to Aphrodite, the goddess of love and beauty.
  • The aromatic leaves have been used for centuries in Mediterranean cuisine as a flavoring herb.
  • Myrtle wood is extremely hard and fine-grained, making it prized for woodworking and carving.
  • In Jewish tradition, myrtle branches are one of the four species used during the Sukkot holiday.

Color meanings

0

love

1

marriage

2

prosperity

3

peace

Uses

  • ornamental
  • culinary herb
  • essential oil
  • traditional medicine
  • hedging