Description
Myrtus – Myrtle –
There are 2 species of dense upright or rounded, evergreen trees and shrubs in this genus. They occur from scrub, woodland, and woodland margins in the Mediterranean region, Northern Africa, South America and the Falkland Islands. They are grown for their aromatic, simple, opposite, deep green, pointed leaves and their solitary, bowl shaped, fragrant starry white flowers borne from spring to autumn and are sometimes followed by blackish purple berries. Myrtles are suitable for a mixed or shrub border, or for growing against a warm, sunny wall. They may also be used as topiary, as free standing specimen shrubs, or as an informal hedge. In general, they need long, hot summer to produce flowers and fruits.
Grow in moderately fertile, moist but well drained soil in full sun or light shade, shelter from cold drying winds.
Prone to scale insects, mushroom root rot, gray mold, leaf spot, and Southern blight.
M. lechleriana – Amomyrtus luma – M. luma of gardens – This upright, bushy shrub or many stemmed tree from Chile grows 20′ feet or more tall and 12′ feet wide. It produces ovate, slightly aromatic, dark green leaves, to 1″ long, coppery brown when young. In mid and late spring it bears compact, axillary racemes of 4-10 fragrant, 5 petalled, creamy white flowers, ½” across. Flowers are followed by edible, spherical, aromatic red berries, ripening to black.
Zones 9-10
