Domakihub How to Plant a Myrtle Shrub and Keep It Thriving
A practical planting guide for Myrtus communis in Greek gardens, terraces, and rental properties.
Reviewed by Domakihub garden pros · 2026-06-23 · 4 min read
Myrtle (Myrtus communis) is one of the most rewarding shrubs you can plant in Greece — drought-tolerant once established, fragrant in summer, and beautiful year-round. The video above gives you a visual overview of the plant; the steps below walk you through exactly how to get it into the ground and thriving. Whether you are planting along a terrace wall, adding privacy to a holiday rental, or greening a hotel courtyard, this guide covers everything you need.
Why Myrtle Belongs in Every Greek Garden
Myrtus communis is native to the Mediterranean basin, which means Greek conditions — hot dry summers, mild winters, and rocky alkaline soil — are essentially its natural habitat. It produces white scented flowers from midsummer into autumn and glossy aromatic foliage that perfumes the air when brushed. The dark berries that follow are edible and have been used in Sardinian and Greek liqueurs for centuries.
Beyond ornament, myrtle serves practical purposes: it tolerates hard clipping and can be shaped into hedges, topiary balls, or low screens. It handles coastal salt spray well, making it especially suitable for island properties and seafront villas.
When and Where to Plant
The best planting windows in Greece are autumn (October to November) and early spring (February to March). Autumn planting is preferred because the mild wet months allow roots to establish before the first summer heat. If you plant in spring, commit to deep watering through the entire first summer.
Choose a spot with full sun — at least six hours of direct light per day. Myrtle will grow in part shade but flowers sparsely and becomes leggy. Well-drained soil is non-negotiable: this plant rots quickly in waterlogged conditions. Sandy or stony loam with a neutral to slightly alkaline pH is ideal, which describes most Greek garden soils perfectly.
How to Plant a Myrtle Shrub: 5 Steps
- 1
Prepare the planting hole
Dig a hole twice as wide as the root ball and roughly the same depth. Loosen the walls and base of the hole with a fork so roots can spread easily. If your soil is heavy clay, mix in a generous amount of coarse grit or gravel at the base to improve drainage — poor drainage is the single most common cause of myrtle failure in gardens.
- 2
Improve the backfill lightly
Myrtle does not need rich soil and can actually sulk in over-fertilised ground, producing soft growth that is prone to disease. Mix the excavated soil with a small amount of well-rotted compost — roughly one part compost to four parts native soil. Avoid adding high-nitrogen fertiliser at planting time.
- 3
Position and plant at the right depth
Remove the nursery pot and check that the root ball is healthy and moist. Place the plant in the centre of the hole so the base of the stem sits at the same level it was in the pot — never deeper. Burying the stem invites rot. Backfill in stages, firming gently with your hands after each addition to remove air pockets.
- 4
Water in thoroughly, then mulch
Give the newly planted shrub a long, slow, deep watering immediately after planting — you want moisture to reach the full depth of the root ball. Then apply a 5–7 cm layer of gravel or pine-bark mulch around the base, keeping it a few centimetres clear of the stem. Mulch retains soil moisture during summer and suppresses weeds without creating the humid conditions that encourage stem rot.
- 5
Establish a first-season watering routine
During the first summer, water deeply once or twice a week rather than lightly every day. Deep infrequent watering encourages roots to grow down into cooler, moister soil layers, building drought tolerance. From the second season onwards, established myrtle in Greek conditions typically needs no irrigation except during prolonged dry spells. Reduce watering gradually in autumn to harden the plant before winter.
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FAQ
- Can myrtle grow in pots on a terrace or balcony?
- Yes — myrtle is an excellent container plant and is widely grown as terrace topiary in Greece and Italy. Use a pot at least 40 cm wide with drainage holes, fill with a gritty loam-based compost, and expect to water more frequently than in-ground plants, especially in summer. Feed with a balanced slow-release fertiliser in spring. Repot every two to three years to refresh the compost.
- How quickly does myrtle grow into a hedge?
- Myrtle is a slow to moderate grower — expect 15–25 cm of new growth per year under good conditions. A hedge at 1 metre tall from young 30 cm plants takes roughly three to four years. You can accelerate establishment by starting with larger nursery specimens and watering consistently through the first two summers. Clip once or twice a year (after flowering) to keep the hedge dense.
- Does myrtle need any special care in winter in Greece?
- In most of mainland Greece and on the islands, established myrtle needs no winter protection — it tolerates short frosts down to about minus 8 degrees Celsius. In northern areas such as the Macedonian highlands, young plants in their first winter benefit from a fleece wrap during hard frost events. Container specimens are more vulnerable than in-ground plants; move them under shelter or against a south-facing wall if severe cold is forecast.