Myrtus communis subsp. tarentina

Common name: Tarentum Myrtle / Dwarf Myrtle

Description: Myrtus communis subsp. tarentina is a charming and refined compact form of the Common Myrtle, offering a beautifully dense, bushy habit clothed in small, narrowly oval, deep glossy green leaves that release a warm, aromatic fragrance when brushed or crushed — a sensory pleasure that has been celebrated since antiquity. From midsummer into early autumn, the neat evergreen mounds are studded with a profusion of small, delicately pretty white flowers, each with a characteristic fluffy boss of creamy stamens that gives them an almost star-like quality and proves highly attractive to bees, hoverflies, and butterflies during the late summer months when many other shrubs have finished flowering. Small, oval white to pale lilac berries follow in autumn, adding a further decorative detail and providing occasional interest for birds. More compact and slightly hardier than the straight species, subsp. tarentina is an excellent choice for sheltered borders, Mediterranean-style and gravel garden schemes, low informal hedging, and topiary, as it clips well and responds readily to shaping. It also performs beautifully as a long-term container specimen for a sunny terrace or courtyard, where its fragrance, flowers, and neat evergreen form can be enjoyed at close quarters throughout the year.

Other benefits: aromatic evergreen foliage with year-round interest; profuse midsummer flowering; attractive autumn berries; suitable for clipping and low hedging; excellent as a container plant; Mediterranean character ideal for courtyard and gravel schemes

Wildlife attraction: bees, hoverflies, butterflies, and occasional berry-feeding birds

Height & spread (approx.) at 10 years: 1.2m x 1m

Position: full sun preferred; requires a warm, sheltered position, ideally against a south- or west-facing wall in cooler regions of the UK; excellent in coastal gardens

Soil pH: performs best in neutral to slightly acid soils; pH 6.0–7.0; avoid thin, very alkaline or chalky conditions

Moisture: moderate watering required, particularly when establishing; tolerates drought reasonably well once established; requires well-drained soil; avoid waterlogging in winter

Winter hardiness: hardy to approximately -8°C to -10°C in a sheltered position with good drainage; may require fleece protection in colder regions or during prolonged hard frosts