Myrtus communis Flore Pleno

Myrtus communis 'Flore Pleno' is the double-flowered form of the iconic common myrtle of Mediterranean scrub vegetation. This evergreen bush blooms in the middle of summer, adorning its dark vegetation with a multitude of small white pompoms. This variety is perfect for creating the structure of a dry garden, both as a hedge and in shrub borders. In colder regions, it can be cultivated in containers as a conservatory plant.

Myrtus communis 'Flore Pleno' belongs to the myrtle family. It is a double form of the common myrtle that is found in the wild at the edge of oak or pine forests, in scrub vegetation and rocky scrubland, from the Mediterranean region to Lebanon. Not very hardy, its crown can withstand temperatures down to -8°C. It is a slow-growing shrub with a naturally dense and bushy habit. It reaches a height of 1.50 m to 1.75 m, sometimes more, with a diameter of 1 m to 1.50 m. The small, ovate leaves with pointed tips are remarkably aromatic when crushed. They are shiny on both sides and are a beautiful dark green. The bush blooms generously from July to September, which is surprising for a plant adapted to dry climates. The small white, 1 cm flowers, are solitary and appear at the axil of the leaves, on the new shoots. They are occasionally followed in autumn by the formation of a few small egg-shaped, fleshy, chalky, black-blue fruits, used in cooking or for making liqueurs.

Adorned with a thousand adorable little flowers in summer, more decorative than boxwood, resistant to diseases and fragrant in hot weather, the 'Flore Pleno' Myrtle would undoubtedly be used more if it were a little hardier. It is an excellent bush for small, trimmed or informal evergreen hedges and topiary art. It prefers partial shade and slightly acidic soils, tolerates long periods of drought once well-rooted, and requires no special care. The myrtle tolerates pruning very well, in April or October, without compromising its flowering. If its vegetation is damaged by a severe winter, it is capable of regrowing from the crown. It can be associated with dwarf pomegranates in a colourful checkerboard or a small Mediterranean-inspired border. In a hedge, at the edge of a grove or woodland, it can be planted alongside the Mexican orange blossom, the Narrow-leaved Phillyrea, or Rhamnus alaternus Argenteovariegata.