Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Type
Tender Perennial
Flowering Plants, Shrub
Origin
Southern Africa
Corsica, Sardinia
Types
Perennial
Myrtus communis
Number of Varieties
500
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
Desert, Mediterranean region, Subtropical climates, Temperate Regions
Mediterranean region
USDA Hardiness Zone
8-10-9999
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
10-8
-
Sunset Zone
H1, H2, 8, 9, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
Not Availble
Habit
Clump-Forming
Bushy, Evergreen
Plant Size
Minimum Height
61.30 cm200.00 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
30.50 cm200.00 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
Yellow, Light Yellow, Brown
White
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
Bicolor
Fruit Color
Green, Brown
Black, Blue
Leaf Color in Spring
Green, Gray Green
Green, Dark Green
Leaf Color in Summer
Green, Gray Green
Dark Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Green, Gray Green
Green, Dark Green
Leaf Color in Winter
Light Green
Green
Shape
Leaf Shape
Grass like
Ovate
Thorns
✔
✘
✔
✘
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Summer
Growing Conditions
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Full Sun
Growth Rate
Medium
Fast
Type of Soil
Clay, Loam, Sand
Clay, Loam, Sand
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Acidic, Neutral
Soil Drainage
Average
Moist but well drained
Bloom Time
Indeterminate
Late Summer, Summer
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
Drought
Moisture
Where to Plant?
Container, Ground, Pot
Container, Pot
How to Plant?
Rhizome division, Seedlings
Seedlings, Semi-hardwood cuttings
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Medium
Watering Plants
Watering Requirements
Requires regular watering
Needs less watering
In Summer
Lots of watering
Ample Water
In Spring
Moderate
Average Water
In Winter
Average Water
Less Watering
Soil
Soil pH
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Acidic, Neutral
Soil Type
Clay, Loam, Sand
Clay, Loam, Sand
Soil Drainage Capacity
Average
Moist, Well drained
Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Full Sun
Pruning
Remove dead leaves
Prune after flowering, Prune for shortening long shoots, Remove dead or diseased plant parts
Fertilizers
Any balanced general purpose fertilizer
Any balanced general purpose fertilizer
Pests and Diseases
Nematodes, Scale
Healthy tree
Plant Tolerance
Drought
Moisture
Flowers
✔
✘
✔
✘
Flower Petal Number
Single
-
Fruits
Showy Fruit
✔
✘
✔
✘
Edible Fruit
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrance
Fragrant Flower
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrant Fruit
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrant Leaf
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrant Bark/Stem
✔
✘
✔
✘
Showy Foliage
✔
✘
✔
✘
Showy Bark
✔
✘
✔
✘
Foliage Texture
Medium
Fine
Foliage Sheen
Matte
Glossy
Evergreen
✔
✘
✔
✘
Invasive
✔
✘
✔
✘
Self-Sowing
✔
✘
✔
✘
Attracts
Bees, Birds, Butterflies
Butterflies
Allergy
Skin irritation
-
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
Showy Purposes
Showy Purposes
Beauty Benefits
-
Acne, Good for skin
Edible Uses
✔
✘
✔
✘
Environmental Uses
Ethnobotanic
Air purification, Food for birds
Plant Benefits
Medicinal Uses
-
Antibacterial, anti-cancer, Antidiabetic, Heart problems, Kidney problems, Respiratory Disorders, Thyroid problems
Part of Plant Used
Root
Flowers, Leaves
Other Uses
Roots were worn to protect and strengthen the wearer, Used as Ornamental plant
Used as essential oil, Used in herbal medicines
Used As Indoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Used As Outdoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Garden Design
Bog Garden, Container, Feature Plant, Mixed Border, Tropical, Water Gardens
Container, Edible, Fruit / Fruit Tree, Shade Trees, Tropical
Botanical Name
DIETES bicolor
Myrtus communis
Common Name
African iris, Fortnight lily
Common Myrtle
In Hindi
African Iris
Common myrtle
In German
Afrikanische Iris
Myrte
In French
African Iris
Myrtus communis
In Spanish
Iris africano
Myrtus communis
In Greek
Αφρικανική Iris
κοινή μυρτιά
In Portuguese
Iris africano
murta comum
In Polish
Afryki Iris
Mirt zwyczajny
In Latin
African Iris
myrto Common
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Magnoliophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Asparagales
Myrtales
Family
Iridaceae
Myrtaceae
Genus
Dietes
Myrtus
Clade
Angiosperms, Monocots
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
Tribe
Irideae
-
Subfamily
Iridoideae
-
Number of Species
3002
1
27800
👆🏻