How much sun does Bog-myrtle need?

Bog-myrtle grows best in full sun conditions.

When does Bog-myrtle bloom?

Bog-myrtle blooms in April and May.

Where is Bog-myrtle native?

Bog-myrtle (Myrica gale) is native to CT, MA, ME, MI and 12 more states, per the World Checklist of Vascular Plants (Kew).

What pollinators does Bog-myrtle attract?

Bog-myrtle draws wind-pollinated.

Bog-myrtle

Name: Pollinator Patch
Author: Pollinator Patch

Myrica gale

Last reviewed: October 2026

Bog-myrtle (Myrica gale) is a perennial shrub native to CT, MA, ME, MI and 12 more states. It blooms in April and May. The flowers draw wind-pollinated.

Toxicity unknown

Bog-myrtle (Myrica gale) is not listed by the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (opens in new tab) or the other sources we check, so we have no verdict for it either way. Absence from those lists is not a clearance. If your pet shows symptoms after eating any plant, call the ASPCA at (888) 426-4435.

Light

full sun

Water

high

Size

24"–60" H × 36"–72" W

Bloom

Apr, May

Native to

CT, MA, ME, MI and 12 more states

Pollinators

wind-pollinated

Before you buy

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Cities and water utilities offer rebates for replacing lawn with native and water-wise plants. We track 460 programs across 44 states, each with a link to the provider and the date we last checked it.

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Browse plants for this ecoregion

Northern Forests Northern Lakes and Forests North Central Hardwood Forests Southern Michigan/Northern Indiana Drift Plains Northeastern Highlands Northeastern Coastal Zone Northern Allegheny Plateau Ridge and Valley Acadian Plains and Hills Eastern Great Lakes Lowlands Atlantic Coastal Pine Barrens

A dense, suckering shrub called sweetgale with aromatic, resin-dotted gray-green leaves, native to bogs and wet shorelines. Produces small catkins in early spring before leaf-out.

Growing Bog-myrtle

Grow Bog-myrtle in full sun and high water. Mature plants reach 24 to 60 inches tall and spread 36 to 72 inches wide.

Wildlife value

Fixes nitrogen in boggy soils and provides dense cover for waterfowl and songbirds near wetland edges.

Common questions

How much sun does Bog-myrtle need?: Bog-myrtle grows best in full sun conditions.
When does Bog-myrtle bloom?: Bog-myrtle blooms in April and May.
Where is Bog-myrtle native?: Bog-myrtle (Myrica gale) is native to CT, MA, ME, MI and 12 more states, per the World Checklist of Vascular Plants (Kew).
What pollinators does Bog-myrtle attract?: Bog-myrtle draws wind-pollinated.

Native range data from the World Checklist of Vascular Plants (Kew). Pollinator and host plant associations compiled from GBIF, iNaturalist, and published ecological literature.

If something looks wrong

Common plant problems, and what to check first

These come up on almost any plant. Each guide lists the likely causes in the order they are worth ruling out, with one thing to check before you act on any of them, and links to the source it came from.

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