Actual size and flowering may vary slightly based on season.
Dwarf Myrtle
Dwarf myrtle is a compact evergreen shrub with small, glossy, fragrant leaves and white flowers in spring and summer. It stays about 2 to 3 feet tall and wide and takes shearing well, so it makes a crisp low hedge, border or topiary. Left unclipped, it grows into a dense, rounded shrub. It looks good in containers and needs little water once rooted.
Best for: low clipped hedges, borders and walkways, foundation beds and containers.
It stays about 2 to 3 feet tall and takes heavy shearing, so it holds a crisp low hedge. Plant it about 2 feet apart for a tight line.
Its small, glossy, fragrant leaves make a neat evergreen edge along walks and beds. Brushing past the leaves releases their scent.
Left unclipped, it grows into a dense, rounded shrub that suits foundation beds without outgrowing them. It also looks good in large pots.
Soggy soil and frequent watering can cause root rot and yellow leaves. Plant it where water drains and let the soil dry between soaks.
- Low clipped hedge2 ft apart
- Border or foundation row2-3 ft apart
Water more often while it gets rooted. After that, give it regular but not frequent deep soaks. It is quite drought tolerant once rooted.
It takes shearing well, so you can keep it as a low clipped hedge or topiary. Left alone, it stays a dense, rounded shrub with little pruning.
Leaves turn yellow when roots sit in wet, highly alkaline soil. Let the soil drain between waterings.
Drainage test first. Dig the hole and fill it with water. If water is still sitting in the hole a day later, you likely hit caliche, clay or hard soil, so fix the drainage before planting. If it drains very fast, the soil is sandy. Standing water around roots is a common reason new plants fail.
Weed cloth. Cut it away from the planting hole and where the roots will spread. Remove any plastic sheeting completely, since it keeps water and air out of the soil.
Rock or decomposed granite with no soil underneath. Bring in soil close in texture to your native soil, mix it with the soil below, and build up enough depth for roots before planting.
If you can break through. Use a breaker bar, pick, or jackhammer. Dig through the caliche and break out the solid chunks. Backfill with the soil you dug out, with no compost or manure in the hole. Confirm drainage before planting.
If you cannot break through. Dig narrow holes through the hard layer beside the root ball, not under it, and refill them with the same soil, not gravel. If it still will not drain, plant on a low mound of the same soil.
Root ball. Check the outside edges for any roots circling around. Loosen or cut those so they grow outward. Do not break up the center of the root ball.
Depth. The top of the root ball should sit at or just slightly above the surrounding soil level. Planting too deep can lead to rot and kill the plant.
Drip emitters. At planting, put the emitters on the root ball, on different sides of the plant. After about 2 months, move them to the outer edge of the root ball. Over the first year, add emitters farther out toward the edge of the branches as roots grow. Once a plant is rooted, never water only at the trunk.
How big does dwarf myrtle get?
It grows about 2 to 3 feet tall and wide. Keep it clipped for a formal hedge, or let it round out on its own.
How often should I water it?
Water it more often while it roots in. After that, give it regular but not frequent deep soaks, and let the soil dry out between them.
Is it cold hardy?
Yes, it is hardy to about 15°F, below a normal Valley winter, so it needs no frost cover.
When should I trim it?
It takes shearing well and can be shaped whenever it needs it to stay compact. Left alone, it needs little pruning.
Why are the leaves turning yellow?
Yellow leaves usually mean the roots are sitting in wet, very alkaline soil. Let the soil drain and dry between waterings.
Does it grow in part shade?
Yes. It handles full sun to part sun, so it works on most sides of the house.
How fast does it grow?
It grows slowly, so it holds its size in a hedge with little trimming. Buy the larger size if you want a finished look sooner.
Can I grow dwarf myrtle in a pot?
Yes, it looks good in containers and takes shearing into neat shapes. Use a pot with a drainage hole and let the soil dry between waterings.
Dwarf Myrtle for sale in Arizona, delivered to you
Dwarf myrtle is a go-to plant for low clipped hedges in the Valley. It stays compact, shears cleanly and needs little water once rooted. Below are the questions people ask most.
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Dwarf myrtle for low hedges
Plant about 2 feet apart and shear to a crisp line. It stays around 2 to 3 feet tall.
Watering dwarf myrtle in Phoenix
Water deeply and let the soil dry between waterings, since wet soil causes root rot.
Dwarf myrtle cold hardiness
It is hardy to about 15°F, below normal Valley winters.
Yellow leaves on myrtle
Yellow leaves usually point to wet, poorly drained or very alkaline soil. Let the soil dry out between waterings.
How big does dwarf myrtle get?
It grows about 2 to 3 feet tall and wide and grows slowly, so it holds its size.
Dwarf myrtle in containers
It looks good in large pots and takes shearing into neat shapes. Use a pot with a drainage hole.
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