Natural England
 

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Autumn squill - Scilla autumnalis
Badger - Meles meles
Bell heather - Erica cinerea
Borage - Borago officinalis
Buff-tailed bumble bee - Bombus terrestris
Butterfly bush - Buddleia davidii
Cardoon - Cynara cardunculus
Clustered bellflower - Campanula glomerata
Columbine - Aquilegia vulgaris
Common comfrey - Symphytum officinale
Common figwort - Scrophularia nodosa
Common mallow - Malva sylvestris
Common sea-lavender - Limonium vulgare
Cowslip - Primula veris
Cross-leaved heath - Erica tetralix
Dead-nettle - Lamium orvala
Dropwort - Filipendula vulgaris
Escallonia - Escallonia sp.
False dittany - Ballota acetabulosa
Globe thistle - Echinops ritro
Gorse - Ulex europeaus
Harebell - Campanula rotundifolia
Hazel - Corylus avellana
Hoary stock - Matthiola incana
Ivy - Hedera helix
Lesser celandine - Ranunculus ficaria
Lungwort - Pulmonaria officinalis
Meadow crane's-bill - Geranium pratense
Monk's-hood - Aconitum napellus
Myrtle - Myrtus communis
Nectaroscordium siculum - Honey garlic
Onion - Allium christophii
Pincushion flower - Echium pininana
Purple-loosestrife - Lythrum salicaria
Ragged-robin - Lychnis flos-cuculi
Red clover - Trifolium pratense
Red-tailed bumble bee - Bombus lapidarius
Sainfoin - Onobrychis viciifolia
Scorpion weed - Phacelia tanacetifolia
Sea-holly - Eryngium amethystinum
Sweet scabious - Scabiosa atropurpurea
Teasel - Dipsacus fullonum
Tree-mallow - Lavatera arborea
Viper's-bugloss - Echium vulgare
Virginia creeper - Parthenocissus quinquefolia
Water figwort - Scrophularia auriculata
White clover - Trifolium repens
Wood mouse - Apodemus sylvaticus
Woolly lamb's ear - Stachys lanata
Yellow-necked mouse - Apodemus flavicollis
Yellow-rattle - Rhinanthus minor
Zigzag clover - Trifolium medium

Myrtle - Myrtus communis

Myrtle - Myrtus communisMyrtle - Myrtus communis
© Dr Chris Gibson/English Nature
UK distribution - East Anglia, Midlands, North, South East, South West

The common myrtle is found all over the Mediterranean but may have originated from western Asia. It is very drought tolerant and will flourish in western seaside gardens. It may not be fully hardy in all areas although one variety, Myrtus communis tarentina 'Jenny Reitenbach', is reliably frost resistant. The leaves are glossy green and noticeably aromatic, especially when bruised.

The plant has been widely and anciently grown for a variety of medicinal properties. Nectar and pollen in the flowers are offered to hoverflies and bees and may be followed by ovoid fruits that become dark purple.

Animals

Buff-tailed bumble bee, Honey bee, Red mason bee, Red-tailed bumble bee, White-tailed bumble bee

FoliageGreen
FlowerWhite, June to August
MoistureDry (Dry)
SunlightFull sun (Full sun)
OriginNon-native