Pollinator plant

Bog myrtle

Myrica gale

Linked agroforestry plant data
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Common names

27 names · 21 languages
EnglishYour language
Other languages (20)
Dutch
French
  • myrique baumier[1][2]
  • Piment aquatique
Chinese (Simplified)
Chinese (Traditional)
Czech
  • vřesna bahenní[2]
Danish
Estonian
  • harilik porss[2]
Finnish
  • sahasuomyrtti[2]
  • suomyrtti[2]
German
Irish
Lithuanian
  • Pajūrinis sotvaras[2]
Norwegian
Nuuchahnulth
  • ʕaanismapt[2]
Ojibwe
  • Wa'sawasni'mike[2]
Polish
  • Woskownica europejska[2]
Portuguese
Russian
  • Восковник обыкновенный[2]
  • Восковница обыкновенная[2]
Slovak
  • vresna močiarna[2]
Swedish
Welsh
  • Gwyrddling[2]
Sources & name notes (2)

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. This is a common-name attestation, not an independent botanical determination.

Source records
  • bog myrtle — results[0].names[1]; taxon id 82203; Myrica gale.
  • Wilde Gagel — results[0].names[6]; 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.
  • sweet gale — results[0].names[2]; taxon id 82203; Myrica gale.
  • Sweetgale — results[0].names[12]; 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.
[2] 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.
  • Wilde Gagel — results[0].names[6]; 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.
  • sweet gale — results[0].names[2]; taxon id 82203; Myrica gale.
  • Sweetgale — results[0].names[12]; 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.
  • pors — results[0].names[7]; taxon id 82203; Myrica gale.
  • Mose-pors — results[0].names[8]; taxon id 82203; Myrica gale.
  • sahasuomyrtti — results[0].names[11]; 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.
Plant references

Source-backed information

Published observations for this plant. Each reference supports the information beside it.

Taxonomy
Myrica gale is an accepted species in Catalogue of Life.

Taxonomic treatment in the August 2026 release; the catalogue record name is preserved.

Sources [1]
Botanical family
Myricaceae

Family in the cited taxonomic treatment.

Sources [1]
Catalogue ratings

Who this plant supports

Honey bees

Low suitability
Nectar value Unknown
Pollen value Low
Agroforestry database

Complete plant information

Open full plant profile

Structure

Vegetation layer
Shrub
Size
Small
Dimensions
2.00 m high × 1.00 m wide
Lifecycle
Perennial
Foliage
Deciduous

Site conditions

USDA hardiness
2-9
Moisture
Moist, Wet
Soil
Sandy, Loamy, Clay
pH
Acid, Neutral, Alkaline
Light
Partial shade, Sun

Uses

Edible parts
Seasoning, Fruit, Tea
Functions
Nitrogen fixer, Dye, Parasiticide, Repellent, Wax, Pollinator plant
Edibility
2 out of 5
Medicinal value
2 out of 5

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.

Sources and references

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

Sources checked
  1. Catalogue of Life Myrica gale — Catalogue of Life COL26.8

    COL26.8 (2026-08-20). Contributing checklist: Synonymic Checklists of the Vascular Plants of the World. This is taxonomic evidence, not an independent ecological study.

    Supports: TaxonomyBotanical family
    Relevant sections
    • Taxonomy: NameUsage.tsv line 713501; ID 458DN; rank species; status accepted
    • Botanical family: NameUsage.tsv line 713501; ID 458DN; rank species; status accepted

    Source checked on .

    Source data licence: CC BY 4.0.