Plant in full sun to light shade in a well-draining soil. It is drought resistant, tolerant to moderate frost and will survive temperatures below 10 degrees F and useful in USDA Zones 8-10. This variety is often used in topiaries and tight, short hedges. The foliage has a pleasant odor when it is crushed, the flowers are also nicely fragrant and the fruit is edible, though not particularly sweet or tasty. The fruit, flowers and leaves can all be used to flavor food and the wood used to flavor meat on the barbecue. Ancient civilizations also used the leaves for medicinal and culinary purposes.

The species Myrtus communis is native to southern Europe, North Africa, Western Asia, Macaronesia, and the Indian Subcontinent but this subspecies is found in southern Europe from Spain east to the area previously called Yugoslavia The name for the genus is from the old Greek name Genus name 'myrtos' that was used to describe the plant. The specific epithet means "common" and the varietal name comes Tarentum, a town in south Italy from where it was collected and first described as a variety of the common myrtle by Linnaeus in 1753. It was later elevated to subspecies level by the Swedish botanist Carl Fredrik Nyman in 1879.

This plant and the larger Myrtus communis both won the coveted Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit in 1993. It was introduced into California as Myrtus communis var. microphylla by William Walker at his Golden Gate Nursery in San Francisco in 1860. It is usually sold in the nursery trades as Myrtus communis 'Compacta' and we grew it from 1981 on using this name as it was commonly listed this way in California nurseries. 

The information about Myrtus communis 'Compacta' that is displayed on this web page is based on research conducted in our nursery's horticultural library and from reliable online resources. We will also include observations made about this plant as it grows in our nursery gardens and other gardens that we have visited, as well how the crops have performed in containers in our nursery field. We also incorporate comments that we receive from others and welcome hearing from anyone with additional information, particularly if they share cultural information that aids others growing this plant.

Please note that after 46 years in business, San Marcos Growers will be discontinuing nursery operations by the end of 2025 and the property will be developed for affordable housing.