Scientific Name: Myrica gale
Common Name: bog myrtle, sweet gale
Family Name: Myricaceae
Origin: Canada - eastern, Europe, U.S. - northeast
Hardiness Zone: Zone 2: (-46 to -40 °C)
Plant Type: Shrub - deciduous
Mature Size: 0.7 - 1.3m x 0.6 - 1.0m (height x width)
Habit: Upright
Form: Round
Texture: Medium - fine
Landscape Uses: Fragrance, Medicinal plant, Native planting, Reclamation, Waterside planting, Wetland - bogs
Exposure: Full sun, Part sun/part shade, Filtered shade
Soil or Media: Acidic, Bog
Leaves: Simple, Alternate, Spiraled, Pinnate venation, Glabrous, Distinctive smell, Oblanceolate, Serrate
Flowers: Catkin (ament), Green-yellow, Brown, Mar-Apr
Fruit: Drupe, Yellow, Green-yellow, Brown, Sep, (Persistent)
Key ID Features:
Leaves alternate, oblanceolate, 2-5cm long x 1-1.5cm wide, margin toothed towards the apex; male and female catkins on separate plants appear before the leaves, Mar-Apr.