Myrtus Communis Brautmyrte

Myrtus Communis Brautmyrte Myrtus Communis L.

What is the plant

Myrtus communis, the common myrtle or true myrtle, is a species of flowering plant in the myrtle family Myrtaceae. It is an evergreen shrub native to southern Europe, north Africa, western Asia, Macaronesia, and the Indian Subcontinent. The plant is an evergreen shrub or small tree, growing to 5 metres (16 ft) tall. The leaves are 2–5 centimetres (1–2 in) long, with a fragrant essential oil. The flowers are white or tinged with pink, with five petals and many stamens that protrude from the flower. The fruit is an edible berry, blue-black when ripe. Myrtus communis is known for its medicinal properties. It has been widely used as an anti-inflammatory reagent. The essential oils derived from this plant has anti-proliferative properties, helping against food spoilage. This species[5] and the more compact M. communis subsp. tarentina[6] have won the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit. They are hardy but prefer a sheltered position in full sun.

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Humidity

Dry

Lighting

Full Sun

Hardiness zone

8 - 24

Difficulty

Easy

Toxicity

Poisonous

Water
Watering: Keep the rootball moist, never let it dry out completely, but also avoid excess soil wetness. Drying out will kill the tree immediately. Use rain water if possible, because the myrtle does not like high concentrations of lime.
Sunlight
The myrtle can be kept indoors but it needs a lot of light and air. It prefers a place in semi-shade outside during the hot summer. In autumn the tree should be taken into a cool room with temperatures around 50°F / 10° C and placed at a window facing south or under grow lights.
Fertilizer
Use a liquid fertilizer every week during the growing season. Don't fertilize in winter when the tree is kept in a cool room. If the winter location is warmer than 50°F / 10° C and the tree continues to grow a little, fertilize twice a month.

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Soil
Repot younger myrtles every two or three years and older specimens every three to five years because they produce more flowers when they get a little rootbound. The soil mix must be lime-free. You can add some peat or Kanuma to your normal soil mix.
Pruning
After flowering let the new shoots grow until they have produced 6 to 8 pairs of leaves before you cut them back. When the myrtle is trimmed, take care that a pair of leaves remains on every twig to ensure new buds will be produced. The myrtle ramifies very well. Use cut paste on larger cut wounds. Wiring is possible on young shoots and twigs but older branches are stiff and break easily.
Additional
Myrtus communis has no toxic effects reported.