Plant Details

Myrica gale

Bog myrtle

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Common names

27 names · 21 languages
EnglishYour language
Other languages (20)
Dutch
  • Wilde gagel[1]
French
  • myrique baumier[1]
  • Piment aquatique
Chinese (Simplified)
Chinese (Traditional)
Czech
  • vřesna bahenní[1]
Danish
Estonian
  • harilik porss[1]
Finnish
  • sahasuomyrtti[1]
  • suomyrtti[1]
German
  • Gagelstrauch[1]
  • Moor-Gagel[1]
Irish
Lithuanian
  • Pajūrinis sotvaras[1]
Norwegian
Nuuchahnulth
  • ʕaanismapt[1]
Ojibwe
  • Wa'sawasni'mike[1]
Polish
  • Woskownica europejska[1]
Portuguese
  • Samouco-do-brabante[1]
Russian
  • Восковник обыкновенный[1]
  • Восковница обыкновенная[1]
Slovak
  • vresna močiarna[1]
Swedish
Welsh
  • Gwyrddling[1]
Sources & name notes (1)

Names recorded in our plant catalogue and botanical sources, grouped by language. Usage can vary by region.

Numbered references identify names recorded by an external source. Other names are from our plant catalogue.

[1] Myrica gale — iNaturalist taxon names ↗

Community-curated iNaturalist taxonomy; common-name attestation, not an independent botanical determination.

Source records
  • bog myrtle — results[0].names[1]; taxon id 82203; Myrica gale.
  • sweet gale — results[0].names[2]; taxon id 82203; Myrica gale.
  • myrique baumier — results[0].names[4]; taxon id 82203; Myrica gale.
  • Samouco-do-brabante — results[0].names[5]; taxon id 82203; Myrica gale.
  • Wilde Gagel — results[0].names[6]; taxon id 82203; Myrica gale.
  • pors — results[0].names[7]; taxon id 82203; Myrica gale.
  • Mose-pors — results[0].names[8]; taxon id 82203; Myrica gale.
  • Gagelstrauch — results[0].names[9]; taxon id 82203; Myrica gale.
  • Moor-Gagel — results[0].names[10]; taxon id 82203; Myrica gale.
  • sahasuomyrtti — results[0].names[11]; taxon id 82203; Myrica gale.
  • Sweetgale — results[0].names[12]; taxon id 82203; Myrica gale.
  • vřesna bahenní — results[0].names[13]; taxon id 82203; Myrica gale.
  • Pajūrinis sotvaras — results[0].names[14]; taxon id 82203; Myrica gale.
  • harilik porss — results[0].names[15]; taxon id 82203; Myrica gale.
  • Восковница обыкновенная — results[0].names[16]; taxon id 82203; Myrica gale.
  • Wa'sawasni'mike — results[0].names[17]; taxon id 82203; Myrica gale.
  • Woskownica europejska — results[0].names[18]; taxon id 82203; Myrica gale.
  • pors — results[0].names[19]; taxon id 82203; Myrica gale.
  • 香楊梅 — results[0].names[20]; taxon id 82203; Myrica gale.
  • 香杨梅 — results[0].names[21]; taxon id 82203; Myrica gale.
  • suomyrtti — results[0].names[22]; taxon id 82203; Myrica gale.
  • Raideog — results[0].names[23]; taxon id 82203; Myrica gale.
  • vresna močiarna — results[0].names[24]; taxon id 82203; Myrica gale.
  • Восковник обыкновенный — results[0].names[25]; taxon id 82203; Myrica gale.
  • Gwyrddling — results[0].names[26]; taxon id 82203; Myrica gale.
  • ʕaanismapt — results[0].names[27]; taxon id 82203; Myrica gale.

General information

Scientific name: Myrica gale
Accepted name (Kew): Myrica gale L. View name reference ↗

Accepted in the cited Kew taxonomic treatment.

Sources [1] [2]
Botanical family: Myricaceae

Kew's family placement for the genus Myrica (WCVP v16).

Sources [1]
Also known as: Bog myrtle
Images: Google Images

Plant characteristics

Layer: Shrub
Catalogue size class: Small
Height: 2.00 m
Spread: 1.00 m
Growth rate: None
Foliage: Deciduous

Leaf retention described in the New England flora.

Sources [3]

Growing conditions

USDA hardiness: 2-9
Soil moisture:
Moist, Wet
Soil:
Sand (light) Loam (medium) Clay (heavy)
pH:
Acidic Neutral Alkaline
Light:
Partial shade, Full sun

Uses

Edible parts:
Condiment, Fruit, Tea
Edibility rating:
(2)
Medicinal rating:
(2)
Functions:
Nitrogen fixer, Dye, Parasiticide, Repellent, Wax, Bee forage

Description

Fruits and leaves can be used both fresh and dried. They are often added to dishes such as soups and stews to enhance flavor. Sometimes they are even added to beer to improve taste and foam formation. The fruits have a diameter of about 3 mm and contain large seeds. In addition, dried leaves make a tasty tea.

Harvest

Harvest starts: 01/09
Harvest ends: 30/11

Sources and references

References for the information marked with source numbers on this page.

Sources checked
  1. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew World Checklist of Vascular Plants, version 16, extracted 4 June 2026
    Supports: Botanical familyTaxonomy
    Relevant sections
    • Botanical family: WCVP v16, wcvp_names.csv row 610736; name ID 2501755; Myrica L.. Family column.
    • Taxonomy: WCVP v16, wcvp_names.csv row 239076; name ID 2500739; Myrica gale L..

    Source checked on .

    Source data licence: CC BY 3.0.

  2. Catalogue of Life Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20 — Myrica gale

    Taxonomic data from World Plants, version 26.05, reproduced in Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20.

    Supports: Taxonomy
    Relevant sections
    • Taxonomy: COL 2026-08-20, NameUsage.tsv line 713501, ID 458DN: Myrica gale L. (accepted).

    Source checked on .

  3. Native Plant Trust; Go Botany Myrica gale — Go Botany
    Supports: Foliage
    Relevant sections
    • Foliage: Leaf duration

    Source checked on .