Not to be confused with the Crepe Myrtle, the true Myrtle flower (Myrtus) is a charming genus of flowering plants rich in history and symbolism. Much of Myrtle’s symbolism is drawn from its years of medicinal and food use.
The Myrtus genus is part of the larger Myrtaceae family. This family includes other valuable food and spice plants like cloves, allspice, guava, and eucalyptus.
Myrtle shrubs can stay just a few feet tall or stretch to 15 feet and more. They’re all evergreen plants that produce at least minor flowers and white or blue-colored berries.
Common Myrtle Flower Colors and their Meaning & Symbolism
Myrtle flowers are almost all white or cream-colored. In the language of flowers, Myrtle’s color profile holds the symbolic meaning of purity, hope, and rebirth.
The oldest meanings ascribed to the Myrtle plant comes from Ancient Greece. The flower was considered sacred to Aphrodite, which gives it a potent layer of love symbolism.
In Judaism, Myrtle is one of the four species of plants used to celebrate the festival of Sukkot. It’s a holiday commemorating the agricultural cycle that ancient Jewish field workers followed.