Shrub
Dwarf Myrtle
Myrtus communis 'Compacta' · Myrtaceae
Also called: Compact Myrtle, Dwarf Common Myrtle
Dwarf Myrtle (Myrtus communis 'Compacta') is a low-water shrub well suited to Tucson and the low desert. It thrives in full sun to partial shade, with a slow to moderate growth rate. Expect white blooms Small fragrant white flowers in late spring/summer.
Dwarf Myrtle at a glance
- Water use
- Low (established)
- Sun
- Full sun to partial shade; handles full Tucson sun and reflected heat once established, and tolerates light shade.
- Mature size
- Compact: typically 2-4 ft tall and wide; easily kept at 1.5-3 ft as a low edging or hedge.
- Growth rate
- Slow to moderate
- Bloom
- White, Small fragrant white flowers in late spring/summer; blooms sparsely and is grown mainly for dense fine-textured foliage.
- Cold hardiness
- Hardy to about 15-20°F; possible tip damage in hard freezes but generally reliable and recovering in 9a/9b with little or no frost protection.
- Soil
- Adaptable; tolerates alkaline Tucson soils with good drainage. Avoid waterlogged conditions.
- Native range
- Cultivar of Mediterranean/western Asian species Myrtus communis
- Best used as
- Low formal hedge and edging, Foundation/mass planting, Small topiary and globes, Container plant, Mediterranean and water-thrifty borders
- Wildlife
- Modest pollinator value when in bloom; minor bird interest in berries.
- Toxicity
- Non-toxic; same culinary/aromatic myrtle species, safe around pets and children. Aromatic foliage when crushed.
How to grow Dwarf Myrtle in Tucson & the low desert
Watering
Drought-tolerant once established; deep-water every 1-2 weeks in summer and every 3-4 weeks in winter for a lush look, less for survival. Water deeply and infrequently to promote deep roots.
Fertilizer & nutrients
Light feeder; minimal fertilizer needed. One spring application of balanced or slow-release fertilizer suffices. Rarely chlorotic in well-drained soil.
Pruning & care
Naturally compact and dense; shear lightly in spring after frost danger to maintain a tidy low hedge or globe. Responds well to formal clipping; needs less pruning than the species to stay small.
Notes
A naturally dwarf, fine-textured form of common myrtle, excellent as a water-thrifty, heat-tough substitute for dwarf boxwood in low-desert low hedges and edgings. More drought- and sun-adapted than boxwood or Indian hawthorn while offering similar clipped form.
Sources: University of Arizona Cooperative Extension / Pima County Master Gardeners; AMWUA Landscape Plants for the Arizona Desert; Reputable Southwest horticulture references