sweetgale
Myrica gale
USDA zones2 to 8
SunHandles full sun to full shade
WaterHandles moderate to wet soil
Size4 to 6 feet tall3 to 5 feet wide
- Bloom season
- Spring, summer, autumn
- Bloom color
- Yellow , green , blue , brown
- Foliage color
- Gray-green
Attracts
Notes
Sweetgale (Myrica gale) is a shrub for shoreline erosion control, wet sites, and bog gardens. It is hardy to USDA zone 2, or down to -50°F (-46°C). This plant likes full sun to full shade and average to wet soil. The leaves smell sweet and resinous. It spreads by underground suckers, so give it room. Moths use it as a larval host, and birds visit it too.
Pairs well with Bog rosemary, Twinflower, and Rush.
Native range
AK, CT, MA, ME, and 22 more places. See all 26
AK, CT, MA, ME, MI, MN, NC, NH, NJ, NY, OH, OR, PA, RI, VT, WA, WI; AB, BC, MB, NB, NL, NS, ON, PE, QC, and SK.