A myrtle is an evergreen shrub with glossy leaves, fragrant white flowers, and small dark berries. It grows naturally around the Mediterranean Sea and has been cultivated for thousands of years. The ancient Greeks and Romans considered myrtle sacred, weaving its branches into wreaths for weddings and victory celebrations.

The plant's leaves contain aromatic oils that smell sweet and slightly spicy when crushed. In some parts of the world, people still use myrtle in cooking: the berries can be dried and ground as a spice, while the leaves flavor roasted meats. Gardeners plant myrtle as hedges or decorative shrubs because it stays green year-round and tolerates being trimmed into shapes.

You might also know the crape myrtle, a popular ornamental tree that blooms with clusters of pink, white, or purple flowers in summer. Despite sharing the name, crape myrtles belong to a different plant family entirely. They're called myrtles because their flowers reminded early botanists of true myrtle blossoms.

The name Myrtle was once common as a girl's name, especially in the early 1900s, inspired by the plant's association with love and beauty in classical mythology.