Myrica Species, Bog Myrtle, Gale, Sweet Gale

This plant can be propagated from cuttings fairly easily. Of 6 small cuttings I received in the post in October, 4 survived the winter wh...Read Moreen potted in a moist, peat based medium. They have grown impressively into mature plants in one season.

This plant has a shallow root system and consistently high watering needs, particularly when cultivated outside of its native range in warm climates. It fares best in an acidic mix of sandy peat kept moist. Hot sunny weather tends to induce late summer dormancy that persists through winter. Fortunately, it reappears on schedule as winter draws to a close.

Its foliage is slightly oily and aromatic, with a pleasant, mild antiseptic-like scent. The plant spreads by suckering shoots, and will thrive in a bog or along a pond edge in a partly sunny location.

The scent is lovely - in Scotland it was used as a strewing herb and a bunch of dried myrtle can be put in a drawer to make clothes smell...Read More sweet and see off insects. We used to tie a bunch to horses' bridles to stop insects bothering them.

It is not this plant but a close relative, Myrica faya, that is problematic in Hawaii. This plant would burn to a crisp in the tropical s...Read Moreun.

Sweet Gale isn't particularly decorative, but it smells great and is a nice plant for naturalizing around wet areas. I use it to screen the legginess of Aronia in my bog garden, and to flavor beers.

This is reported to be invasive in parts of Hawaii, but it's threatened or endangered in some eastern United States. Grows on lakeshores ...Read Moreand in peat bogs. Smells great, and is used to flavor some beers.