Plant · P-058

Bog Myrtle

Myrica gale

Bog Myrtle is a nitrogen-fixing shrub whose aromatic foliage is a genuine insect repellent, the classic Scottish crofters' remedy against midges. For centuries before hops took over, it was the bittering herb brewed into gruit ale. It needs permanently wet, acid peat bog rather than ordinary damp ground, and a cold northern or high-elevation climate to match. It is dioecious, so a male plant has to be nearby for any fruit, and the leaves carry a poisonous oil that makes them unsafe for anyone pregnant.