any plant of the genus Myrtus, especially M. communis, a shrub of southern Europe having evergreen leaves, fragrant white flowers, and aromatic berries: anciently held sacred to Venus and used as an emblem of love.
any of certain unrelated plants, as the periwinkle, Vinca minor, and California laurel, Umbellularia californica.
Also called myrtlewood. the hard, golden-brown wood of the California laurel.
Also called myrtle green. dark green with bluish tinge.
any evergreen shrub or tree of the myrtaceous genus Myrtus, esp M. communis, a S European shrub with pink or white flowers and aromatic blue-black berries
short for crape myrtle
bog myrtle another name for sweet gale
another name for periwinkle 2
1350–1400; Middle English mirtile < Medieval Latin myrtillus, equivalent to Latin myrt ( us ) (< Greek mýrtos ) + New Latin -illus diminutive suffix
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Instead the RHS is considering trees that enjoy hotter and wetter weather, like the American river birch or crepe myrtle, or plants with deeper roots to tolerate drought like yarrow or bird’s foot.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 31, 2026
Served alongside native beach succulent, these Asian-style dumplings come topped with sesame seeds and a gochujang anise myrtle dressing.
From Salon ● Aug. 30, 2026
Her bridal bouquet included sweet peas, myrtle – a tradition in Ms Sperling's family and for the Royal Family – and lily of the valley.
From BBC ● Jun. 7, 2026
"None of them appear to have any resistance to myrtle rust or any wild population which is not yet infected."
From Science Daily ● Mar. 13, 2026
The bees were everywhere, hovering over the hydrangea and the myrtle spread across the lawn, the jasmine at the wood’s edge, the lemon balm clustered at the fence.
From "The Secret Life of Bees" by Sue Monk Kidd
Ms. Graham appeared with Mr. Trump at an Aug. 21 rally in Myrtle Beach, but if she has held other public events, I haven’t discovered their whereabouts.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 7, 2026
The rally was held in Myrtle Beach because the area features a trove of up-for-grabs votes in the runoff.
From Slate ● Aug. 25, 2026
And in Myrtle Beach, S.C., officials instituted an “umbrellas-only rule” from Memorial Day through Labor Day citing safety.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 5, 2026
He also founded the Myrtle Peach Trust Charity for the prevention and treatment of cervical and ovarian cancer.
From BBC ● Jun. 27, 2026
It sounded like some of the old boleros that Lázaro used to put on his phonograph in his house on Myrtle Ave, but the little fellow on stage was definitely not singing in Spanish.
From "Shadowshaper" by Daniel José Older
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