Common myrtle (Myrtus communis) grows natively across the Mediterranean basin, the Middle East, northern Africa, western Asia, and parts of the Indian subcontinent. It thrives in warm, sunny climates with mild winters and well-drained soil, and it can be grown in gardens across USDA hardiness zones 8 and 9.
Myrtle’s Native Range
Myrtle is a wild shrub indigenous to the lands surrounding the Mediterranean Sea. Its native territory stretches from southern Europe (Portugal, Spain, Italy, Greece, and Turkey) through northern Africa and into the Middle East, particularly Iran. It also extends into western Asia and the Indian subcontinent. Within this vast range, myrtle typically grows in scrubby coastal hillsides, open woodlands, and the edges of forests, often alongside other drought-adapted Mediterranean plants like rosemary and lavender.
Myrtus communis is actually the only species in its genus found in the Northern Hemisphere. While the broader myrtle family (Myrtaceae) includes thousands of species spread across the Southern Hemisphere, the plant most people mean when they say “myrtle” is this single Mediterranean species.
True Myrtle vs. Crepe Myrtle
If you searched “where does myrtle grow,” you may be thinking of crepe myrtle, which is an entirely different plant. Crepe myrtle (Lagerstroemia) is a flowering tree from Southeast Asia that’s widely planted across the southern United States. True myrtle is a compact evergreen shrub with small, aromatic leaves and white flowers. The two are unrelated despite sharing a common name. This article covers true myrtle, the Mediterranean species.
Climate and Hardiness Zones
Myrtle is hardy to USDA Zone 8, which means it can handle minimum winter temperatures down to about 10°F (-12°C). It grows comfortably in zones 8a through 9b. In the United States, that includes much of the Pacific Coast from Northern California southward, the Gulf Coast states, and parts of the Southeast. In colder climates, a hard freeze will damage or kill an unprotected plant.
The ideal climate for myrtle mirrors its Mediterranean origins: warm, dry summers and cool, wet winters. It performs well in places like coastal California, parts of Arizona, southern France, and the Iberian Peninsula. It is frost tender, so young spring growth can be damaged by a late frost even within its recommended zones.
Sunlight and Soil Needs
Myrtle needs 6 to 8 hours of direct sunlight daily. It can tolerate light shade, but flowering and foliage density drop off noticeably without full sun. A south-facing or west-facing spot in the garden is ideal in most climates.
Well-drained soil is the single most important factor for healthy myrtle. The plant tolerates a range of soil types, including alkaline (high pH) soils, sandy soils, and even rocky ground, but it does not tolerate waterlogging. In poorly drained or overwatered soil, the leaves develop yellowing at the tips (a condition called tip chlorosis), and root rot can set in. If your garden has heavy clay, planting in a raised bed or amending with sand and gravel will help.
Watering and Drought Tolerance
Once established, myrtle is a genuinely drought-tolerant plant. The Arizona Department of Water Resources classifies it as a moderate water-use shrub, recommending irrigation every one to two weeks during the growing season for mature plants. That’s notably less than most garden shrubs.
New plants are a different story. During the first two to three years after planting, myrtle needs regular watering while its root system develops. After that establishment period, you should let the soil dry out between waterings. Overwatering is a more common problem than underwatering with this species.
Growing Myrtle Indoors
Myrtle can be grown as a houseplant or bonsai, and it’s a popular choice for both. The challenge indoors is providing enough light. A bright south-facing window is essential, and supplemental grow lights help in northern climates or darker apartments. Without adequate light, the plant becomes leggy and vulnerable to pests like scale, mealybug, and whitefly, which tend to appear in warm rooms with low light and stagnant air.
Indoor myrtle benefits from being placed outside during warm months. If you live in a zone colder than 8, you can treat it as a container plant that summers outdoors and winters inside near a bright window. Keep humidity moderate and avoid placing it near heating vents, which dry the air around the foliage.
Size and Growth Habit
In the wild, myrtle grows as a dense, bushy evergreen shrub that can reach 10 to 15 feet tall in favorable conditions. In garden settings, most plants stay between 5 and 8 feet unless pruned. Compact cultivars are available that stay under 3 feet, making them suitable for borders, low hedges, or container growing. The plant responds well to pruning and has been used in formal topiary for centuries. Left alone, it forms a naturally rounded shape with glossy, dark green leaves that release a pleasant fragrance when crushed.