This is a Bonsai Tree Starter Plant, aka Dwarf Myrtle Compacta. A Mini Tree Evergreen Starter Plant comes in a 2 inch pot perfect for an Outdoor Zen Garden or Gift for Mom, plant lover, or housewarming gift.

Scientific name: Myrtus communis 'Compacta'/ Sweet Myrtle

Plant will come in a 2 inch plastic pot and will be about 3-4 inches tall.

🌱Please note that the temperatures under 45 degrees may impact the health of your plant during the shipment process. If you are in an area with the temps below 50 degrees, you may want to consider upgrading to priority shipping or waiting until spring to order.

🌱 We ship on Mondays and Tuesdays to minimize time in transit. The packages are sent from Los Angeles, so it will take 5-7 days of transit time to get to the East Coast. If you would like to upgrade to Priority Shipping, please select the upgraded priority option.

🌱 Care Tips:

Common Myrtle Care

Myrtus communis can be planted in a raised bed, in a container, grouped to form a hedge or border, or as a standalone accent. Drought-tolerant, deer-resistant, and low-maintenance, Myrtle works well in a variety of garden types, from city to coastal to cottage where it will fill out any sheltered, sunny space gracefully.

Light

Give the plant full to partial sun in a west or south-facing location sheltered from the cold, drying wind. If growing as a bonsai indoors, it will need a lot of light and air. Set in semi-shade outside in the hot summer. In autumn, bring inside a cool room where temperatures are around 50 degrees Fahrenheit. Place on a south-facing windowsill or beneath grow lights.

Soil

Establish Myrtus communis in moist but well-drained soil. It will adapt to clay or sand, though, for best results, plant under glass in loam-based compost in filtered light with good ventilation.

Beware of iron chlorosis in highly alkaline soil that has a pH higher than 8.3. If this occurs, lower the soil pH with a treatment of elemental sulfur or nitrogen fertilizer.

Water

Water the root ball regularly (once a week or more) when the plant is young, but do not soak as this could also contribute to possible iron chlorosis. An older plant prefers a deeper watering every two to four weeks but can do well without water for shorter periods, as well.

Myrtle does not do well with high concentrations of lime found in tap water. It may benefit the plant to harvest rainwater for waterings.

Temperature and Humidity

Hardy in USDA Zones 8-11, the common myrtle is frost tender and hardy to 10 degrees Fahrenheit. It does not tolerate high humidity.

Fertilizer

Outdoors, fertilize once a year in early spring. Indoors, use a liquid fertilizer weekly during the growing season. Watch the plant in the winter because if it's growing even a little bit, you may need to fertilize it every two weeks.