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Bog-Rosemary

Bog-Rosemary

Andromeda polifolia

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How common: Common

Bog-Rosemary is a low, evergreen shrub of peat bogs. It has narrow dark green leaves that are pale grey-white underneath and pretty, drooping, pale pink bell-like flowers at the tips of the shoots. You can see it across cool northern regions of Europe, Asia and North America. Poisonous – do not eat.

Did you know?

  • Its scientific name refers to the mythic princess Andromeda, imagined as being chained to the peat like the plant is to bogs.
  • It is the only species in its genus.

About the species

Identification

A small, upright, sparsely branched shrub, usually 10–30 cm tall. Leaves are thick, narrow (1–4 cm), pointed, dark green above, grey-white below, with edges rolled under. At shoot tips in early summer, clusters of 4–5 small, drooping, pale pink pot-shaped bells on long stalks (about 5–8 mm). Later a small round dry seed case forms. Distinguish from leatherleaf (broader leaves, white flowers) and Labrador tea (taller, white felt beneath leaves and white open flowers). Flowers in Finland in June–July.

Plant group

Dwarf shrubs

Habitat

mire

Toxicity

A poisonous plant – do not taste it. Source: HUS Poison Information Centre (Finland), tel. 0800 147 111.

Flowering

Jun–Jul

About the habitat

Grows on open, wet, acidic peatlands such as bogs and poor fens, often on mossy hummocks in sunny spots. Widespread across the boreal zone of the Northern Hemisphere. Common throughout the country, including Lapland.

Sources

Photo: Pmau, CC BY-SA 3.0 https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Andromeda polifolia - Seigne des Barbouillons.jpg

Text: Pinkka: Yläkoulun Pinkka - Suot ja tunturit, CC BY 4.0 https://laji.fi/taxon/MX.38614

Text: Pinkka: Suomen puuvartiset - Koppisiemeniset. Lähteet: Väre, H., Saarinen, J., Kurtto, A. & Hämet-Ahti, L. (toim.) 2021: Suomen puu- ja pensaskasvio. 3. täysin uudistettu p. – Publications of the Finnish Dendrological Society 10: 1–552 s., CC BY 4.0 https://laji.fi/taxon/MX.38614

Text: Pinkka: BIO-503 Suomen kasvisto ja kasvillisuus - Tunturit: tunturiniityt, CC BY 4.0 https://laji.fi/taxon/MX.38614

Text: Pinkka: A Pohjolan kasveja - Abies-Allium, CC BY 4.0 https://laji.fi/taxon/MX.38614

Text: Pinkka: Kasvien talvi - Talvivihreät luonnonkasvit, CC BY 4.0 https://laji.fi/taxon/MX.38614

Text: Wikipedia (Finnish), CC BY-SA 4.0 https://fi.wikipedia.org/wiki/Suokukka

See also