NewsJardinTV, the channel 100% passionate about plants, gardens, botany, nature and gardening, offers you issue 441 of its show "Le Quotidien du Jardin", produced by Nicole and Patrick Mioulane. MonAnge1252 asks us the following question: What do you think of myrtles for making a hedge in a garden in the Cotentin? I have seen these shrubs on the Côte d'Azur but not here... The common name myrtle (masculine) mainly refers to plants belonging to the genus Myrtus, but in reality it remains very vague because very diverse plants have the word myrtle in their vernacular name. The international botanical nomenclature today validates 43 species and as many synonyms in the genus Myrtus, which gave its name to the Myrtaceae family (363 genera and 6,537 species). Several Myrtaceae are commonly called myrtles and some were once classified in the genus Myrtus: • Agonis flexuosa, Australian tree with a drooping habit: Weeping willow myrtle • Backhousia citriodora, Australian aromatic tree: Lemon myrtle or lemon myrtle • Leptospermum scoparium, very floriferous evergreen shrub: Australian myrtle or Pink myrtle, see Quotidien du Jardin N° 391: • TEA TREE OR MANUKA, A SHRUB WITH S... • Luma apiculata: evergreen shrub with white flowers native to Argentina and Chile: Orange-barked myrtle, Chilean myrtle or luma myrtle • Melaleuca diosmifolia, Australian shrub: Green-flowered myrtle; Melaleuca alternifolia Australian shrub with white flowers also called tea tree: Honey myrtle • Pimenta dioica, tree native to tropical America whose fruit is used as a spice: Pepper myrtle • Rhodomyrtus tomentosa Asian shrub with decorative pink flowers: Gooseberry myrtle • Syzygium paniculatum tree native to eastern Australia, with edible fruits that look like cherries: Australian myrtle • Ugni molinae fruit shrub also called Chilean guava: Musk myrtle And then some plants belonging to other botanical families also sometimes bear the name of myrtle: • Lagerstroemia indica: Chinese myrtle, Crepe myrtle or Indian lilac (Lythraceae) • Myrica gale: Bastard myrtle, Swamp myrtle, Brabant myrtle (Myricaceae) • Ruscus aculeatus: Myrtle thorny, wild myrtle also known as butcher's broom or little holly Asparagaceae • And even Salvia microphylla, Graham's sage, also called Mountain myrtle (Lamiaceae). However, we believe that our Internet user is referring to the only Myrtaceae of European origin, namely the common myrtle (Myrtus communis L.) which has various common names: lagui grass, rabbit grass, Jewish myrtle, true myrtle, nerte. Growing naturally in the scrubland of the Mediterranean basin, Myrtus communis is a bushy shrub, 2 to 3 m high, with an upright shape, whose angular branches arch with age. The reddish-brown bark flakes off on old trees. A myrtle can live for more than 300 years. The evergreen leaves, 2 to 5 cm long, are opposite, oval, leathery, varnished, dark green. When crushed, they give off an aromatic odor reminiscent of incense, eucalyptus and sage. The essential oil is used in perfumery and aromatherapy to clear the respiratory tract. From June to October, the white hermaphrodite flowers, 1 to 3 cm in diameter, solitary, with five petals, are decorated with a central tuft of white stamens which give the flower a vaporous appearance. The very generous flowering is pleasantly perfumed (a floral and spicy fragrance). The fruits are ovoid berries 0.5 to 1 cm long, purple-black. The common myrtle is a very interesting shrub for its resistance to drought and which perfectly supports pruning which allows it to be made into hedges in coastal gardens. For this purpose, we can prefer the small-leaved myrtle (Myrtus communis subsp. tarentina), which is very bushy. Myrtle grows well in full sun in any light and draining soil, even poor. Hardiness between -7 and -10 °C. No risk on this side in the Cotentin, but due to the high rainfall in the region, myrtle is rarely found there. Popular in Corsican and Sardinian cuisine, the myrtle berry has a flavor reminiscent of juniper and rosemary. It accompanies game birds, wild boar, and charcuterie. Macerated in brandy and sugar, a liqueur is also made in Corsica with myrtle berries (60 g/l). Myrtle berry jelly is also available. Thank you for following us. We hope that this video interlude has interested you and that you have spent pleasant moments in our company. We let's meet up four times a week for a new show: "LE QUOTIDIEN DU JARDIN". It's on NewsJardinTV and nowhere else! In issue 442 we will answer the following question: Could you make a video about the blackthorn?