1/10

Common Myrtle

3.3 out of 5 (4 experiences)

Survivor

Browns easily

About Common Myrtle

Common myrtle is an evergreen shrub in the Myrtacae (myrtle) family. The leaves have been used for medicinal and culinary purposes. The berries that follow the flowers are edible and when dried are used as a food flavoring. Oils obtained from the bark, flowers and leaves are used in skin care products.

Taxonomy

Scientific name

Myrtus communis

Genus

Myrtus

Family

Myrtaceae

Order

Myrtales

How to care for Common Myrtle

💦 Water

How often to water your Common Myrtle

Common Myrtle needs 0.5 cups of water every 9 when it doesn’t get direct sunlight and is potted in a 5" pot.

Use our water calculator to personalize watering recommendations to your environment or download Greg for more advanced recommendations for all of your plants.

Water 0.5 cups every
9

Does your plant get direct sunlight?

No Yes

Select the pot size

☀️ Light

Finding light for Common Myrtle in your home

Common Myrtle love being close to bright, sunny windows 😎.

Place it less than 1ft from a south-facing window to maximize the potential for growth.

Common Myrtle does not tolerate low-light 🚫.

Select your region to see how the current weather in your area affects the placement of Common Myrtle in your home 🏡.

🪴 Nutrients

How to fertilize Common Myrtle

Nutrient, fertilizer, and repotting needs for Common Myrtle: repot after 2X growth

Most potting soils come with ample nutrients which plants use to produce new growth.

By the time your plant has depleted the nutrients in its soil it’s likely grown enough to need a larger pot anyway.

To replenish this plant's nutrients, repot your Common Myrtle after it doubles in size or once a year—whichever comes first.

Browse #CommonMyrtle

💡 FAQs

⭐ Difficulty Level

Common Myrtle is generally considered an easy-to-care-for plant and makes a great choice for beginners!

How to Grow Common Myrtle →

Benefits of Growing Common Myrtle →

Common Common Myrtle Problems →

Indoor Care Guide for Common Myrtle →

Outdoor Care Guide for Common Myrtle →

💦 Water Needs

Common Myrtle prefers for the soil to dry out between waterings and should be watered regularly. Use our water calculator to personalize watering recommendations to your environment or download Greg for more advanced recommendations for all of your plants.

Common Myrtle Water Frequency →

Common Myrtle Root Rot →

☀️ Sunlight Needs

Common Myrtle requires abundant, bright and direct light. Place it less than one foot from a window to ensure it receives enough light to survive 💪. Select your region to see how the current weather in your area affects the placement in your home 🏡.

Common Myrtle Light Requirements →

Common Myrtle Direct Sunlight Needs & Tolerance →

🐶 🐈 👶 Toxicity

Common Myrtle is not known to cause harm to humans or pets. Regardless, if you, a family member, a cat, or dog has ingested any plant material, please consult a doctor or a veterinarian.

Is Common Myrtle Edible? →

Common Myrtle Toxicity to Cats →

Common Myrtle Toxicity to Dogs →

Common Myrtle Toxicity to Humans →

🪴 Soil

Common Myrtle does best in well-draining soil. A good soil will contain lots of organic matter such as coco coir as well as perlite or vermiculite to help with drainage. Adding a handful of perlite to regular store-bought potting soil should do the trick!

Best Soil Mix for Common Myrtle →

Best Pots for Common Myrtle →

When and How to Successfully Repot Common Myrtle →

What Are Healthy Common Myrtle Roots →

💩 Fertilizer

Common Myrtle should be repotted after it doubles in size or once a year, whichever comes first. Fresh potting soil has all the nutrients your plant needs, so as long as it’s refreshed yearly, you shouldn’t need to use fertilizer. Remember, plants get their energy from sunlight, not fertilizer!

How Much and When to Fertilize Common Myrtle →

⬆️ ⬇️ Growth Pattern

Common Myrtle grows along the ground and sends out shoots which will spread across the soil.

Common Myrtle Lifecycle →

Common Myrtle Size Guide →

How and When to Prune Common Myrtle →

🌦️ Growing Outdoors

USDA Hardiness Zone
Common Myrtle can be grown outdoors in USDA Hardiness Zones 8a-11b. Find your local hardiness zone here.

Common Myrtle Temperature Tolerance →

Common Myrtle Hardiness Zones →

Landscaping Ideas with Common Myrtle →

When to Plant Common Myrtle →

How to Plant Common Myrtle →

Where to Plant Common Myrtle →

Winter Care for Common Myrtle →

Best Companion Plants for Common Myrtle →

Is Common Myrtle a Weed? →

🌱 Propagation

The seeds of Common Myrtle can be used to grow new plants! After your plant flowers, any seeds that formed can be collected and germinated in potting soil.

How to Propagate Common Myrtle →

🍂 Yellow Leaves

Yellow leaves aren’t always a reason to panic, and can be a normal part of a plant’s life cycle. Unless brand new leaves are turning yellow or all the leaves change color at once, it’s likely just your plant shedding old leaves.

Overwatering and root rot are the most likely cause of problems in Common Myrtle, since they are sensitive to wet soil. The leaves may also appear to be curling or drooping. Less often, yellow leaves are caused by underwatering, nutrient deficiencies, or pests.

Replace soggy soil with fresh, dry soil and download Greg to make sure your plant never gets overwatered again!

🧐 Troubleshooting

When troubleshooting a sad-looking houseplant, start by checking for signs of distress in its leaves, such as yellowing, browning, or drooping, which can indicate overwatering or nutrient deficiencies.

Inspect the soil moisture; too dry or too wet soil can cause problems.

Ensure the plant is getting the right amount of light, as too much or too little can stress it.

Finally, consider environmental factors like temperature and humidity, and adjust care routines accordingly to revive your plant.

Common Bugs Affecting Common Myrtle →

What Eats Common Myrtle? →

Care Summary for Common Myrtle

Common Myrtle

Greg recommends:

Water

0.5 cups every 9 days

Placement

< 1ft from a window

Nutrients

Repot after 2x growth

Based on the 4” pot your plant is in, and that it doesn’t get direct sunlight.

What other plant parents say

Survivor 2

Browns easily 2

@@thiago

16 Plants

2,116 XP

10/04/2021

High maintenance. Thirsty all the time and one day without water is a reason to loose leafs and get the others brown.

Survivor

Browns easily

Common Myrtle plant photo by @thiago named Myrtle on Greg, the plant care app.

@Dominic

1 Plants

27 XP

Egg Harbor City, NJ

05/30/2021

Extremely difficult to take care of, whether it’s getting too much light too little light, too much water too little water, too much heat too much cold, too much humidity too little, you’ll basically never know.

Browns easily