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Landscaping with Myrtle: The Sorcerer's Violet

Image Credit:
Photo by Nicholas A. Tonelli: Wikimedia Commons
Written By: George and Becky Lohmiller

Myrtle (Vinca spp.) is among the hardiest of evergreen ground covers, hardy to Zone 4 and growing as far north as Canada. It can be invasive in certain areas.

Myrtle, Also Called Vinca or Periwinkle

Its bright-green leaves darken with the season, sometimes taking on a bronze tone under the winter sun. Lavender-blue or white flowers appear in the spring and sporadically all season.

  • Spring and early fall are considered the best times to plant myrtle.
  • It prospers in dappled sunlight but will also grow in full sun and even in dense shade.
  • Use it instead of mulch under trees and shrubs to control weeds, or plant it in difficult-to-mow areas. Myrtle’s tenacious root system makes it an ideal choice for controlling erosion on steep banks.
  • Prepare the ground by tilling in a one-inch layer of peat moss or compost and an application of complete 5-10-5 fertilizer to a depth of six inches.
  • Space the young plants or divisions about eight inches apart. When you are finished, soak the entire planting, and mulch the area lightly with pine needles or bark.
  • Water and weed the planted area frequently during its first season. Soon new shoots will spread out and root into the spaces between the plants, spreading joy all over the ground.

Myrtle Folklore: The Sorcerer’s Violet

A thousand years ago, the sorcerer’s violet, what we now call periwinkle, vinca, or myrtle, was shrouded in superstition:

  • English herbalists believed that the trailing evergreen ground cover could be gathered only on the 1st, 9th, 11th, or 13th day of the Moon by a person cleansed of all impurities.
  • Those who carried the plant believed that they were protected from the devil and safe from the bites of rabid dogs and venomous serpents.
  • The Scots named this powerful plant joy-of-the-ground. They believed that marital bliss would be ensured if the leaves were ground to powder and taken at meals in a freshly picked houseleek that contained worms. (We have a hunch that a lot of Scottish couples endured unhappy marriages rather than brave the cure.)
Landscaping

About The Author

George and Becky Lohmiller

George and Becky Lohmiller

George and Becky Lohmiller shared their gardening knowledge and enthusiasm with Almanac readers for more than 15 years, writing Farmer’s Calendar essays and gardening articles in previous editions of ...

Read more from George and Becky Lohmiller

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Comments

<span>Sarah H.</span> Sun, 08/23/2015 - 19:14
Our hillside used to be covered with myrtle. Over the past several years, a combination of stilt grass and garlic mustard as well as regular grass have been "winning" and replacing the myrtle. We want our myrtle back! I have started to aggressively weed the hillside, but want to know if this is the right approach? Will just pulling out the invaders be enough? Also, we have some black walnut trees and recently read about juglone being a toxicity issue- is this part of the problem with our myrtle losing ground? Any help appreciated.
<a title="View user profile." href="/author/editors">The Editors</a> Wed, 08/26/2015 - 12:10

There are mixed opinions about myrtle and black walnut. It's best not to plant the myrtle too close to the trees. Myrtle also prefers full sun so plant it away from any shade from the trees. If you remove all the weeds and amend the soil with some compost or aged manure you should be all set to plant the myrtle on the hillside.

 <span>Jessespencer</span> Sun, 07/05/2015 - 19:57
1) can I plant myrtle on top of existing mulch (15 yrs of layer) 2) can I plant myrtle on top of grass on the shady side? 3) can I plant myrtle on a rock bed (only has weed and established chives) in full sun? 4) will perennials return after planting myrtle? 5) can I lay rocks against the brick facade of my house (after planting myrtle) to prevent moisture log?
<span>Mary Kubley</span> Sat, 04/01/2017 - 09:08
I love the look of myrtle in my garden. Can I use it around my perennials so that I don't have to buy so much mulch ?
<span>Teresa Lee Fowler</span> Wed, 06/03/2015 - 09:37
I planted myrtle in my front lawn. A third of the myrtle turned brown immediately, while the other two thirds is thriving. Any guesses?
<a title="View user profile." href="/author/editors">The Editors</a> Fri, 06/05/2015 - 10:28

Your ground cover probably has a blight which is a fungus that can spread and is common where it's moist or wet. It's hard to control but thinning overcrowded plants to improve air circulation and drying is helpful. There are also fungicides to apply as soon as you see the condition; speak to your local garden center.

 <span>Judy1955</span> Sun, 04/19/2015 - 11:06
I love the myrtle I have planted in the front yard. My neighbor thinks the myrtle is giving mosquitoes a place to live. Is this true? If so can I put something natural on the plants to keep the bugs away, so as not to destroy this beautiful plant?
<a title="View user profile." href="/author/editors">The Editors</a> Mon, 04/20/2015 - 14:37
Hi, Judy: Myrtle in and of itself doesn't attract mosquitoes, but it will provide shelter for them (and ticks, too) just like any other ground cover. Some folks believe that plants such as citronella and wax myrtle will repel mosquitoes, but there is little evidence that this will happen through the air. As you may know, crushing their leaves and applying to the skin can sometimes work. The main defense against mosquitoes is to cut off standing water in which they hatch. Level off puddle areas. Put fine-mesh screening over rain barrels. Make sure the wheelbarrow is turned over. Reduce birdbaths if possible. Discard or overturn unused pots and planters. Remember that any standing water is the same as a lot of standing water. For example, you might have an unused planter that even when overturned has shallow indentations in its top (really its bottom). If you must keep this, then fill in any little places for mini puddles with sand. Be assiduous: Go around your yard after every rainstorm and get rid of water. But keep your myrtle. Good luck!
<span>Loren C</span> Wed, 02/25/2015 - 12:34
Is this plant used in the healing sense? is it edible?
<a title="View user profile." href="/author/editors">The Editors</a> Fri, 02/27/2015 - 06:03

The berries from the genus Myrtus are indeed edible. Myrtus communis (Common Myrtle) berries can be dried and used in stews and casseroles. This is common in Turkey and other areas of the Middle East. Also, myrtle has been used as a medicinal plant. The Romans used myrtle for urinary and respiratory ailments. The Egyptians used it for nervous afflictions. Today, its essential oil is used for bronchial complaints.