Bog Rosemary

(Andromeda polifolia)

Bog Rosemary (Andromeda polifolia)

Qwert1234

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Copyright Notice: Photo by: Qwert1234 | License Type: CC BY-SA 3.0 | License URL: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0 | Uploader: Qwert1234 | Publisher: Wikimedia Commons | Title: Andromeda_polifolia_Japan_1.JPG | Notes: {{Information |Description ={{en|1=Location taken: Behnke Nurseries, Potomac MD USA. Names: Astilbe japonica 'Peach Blossom' (Morr. and Dcne.) Gray, Peach Blossom False Goats Beard, Peach Blossom False Spirea, Peach Blossom Japanese Astilb Cl... |

Estimated Native Range

Summary

Andromeda polifolia, commonly known as Bog Rosemary, is a small, evergreen shrub native to peat bogs, marshes, and wetlands across northern Europe, Asia, and North America. It typically grows to 10–20 cm (4–8 in) tall, with some specimens reaching up to 40 cm (16 in). The slender stems support narrow, leathery leaves that resemble those of the culinary rosemary, hence its common name. From late spring to early summer, Bog Rosemary produces bell-shaped flowers that are white to pink and 5–8 mm (0.20–0.31 in) long, which are modestly showy and attract pollinators.

Bog Rosemary is valued for its hardiness in cold climates and its preference for acidic, moist conditions, making it a suitable choice for bog gardens and waterside plantings. It is also used in rock gardens and as ground cover in acidic soil areas. The cultivars ’Compacta’ and ’Macrophylla’ have been awarded the Royal Horticultural Society’s Award of Garden Merit, indicating their exceptional performance in gardens. While it thrives in full sun, it can also tolerate part shade, and requires consistently moist to wet soil conditions with a low pH. It is important to avoid alkaline soils to prevent chlorosis. Bog Rosemary can be susceptible to fungal diseases in conditions of poor air circulation or overly wet soil.CC BY-SA 4.0

Plant Description

Plant Type: Subshrub, Shrub
Height: 1-1.5 feet
Width: 2-3 feet
Growth Rate: Slow
Flower Color: Pink, White
Flowering Season: Spring
Leaf Retention: Evergreen

Growth Requirements

Sun: Full Sun, Part Shade
Water: High
Drainage: Slow, Standing

Common Uses

Bank Stabilization, Bee Garden, Border Plant, Deer Resistant, Low Maintenance, Potted Plant, Rock Garden, Showy Flowers, Water Garden

Natural Habitat

Peat bogs, marshes, and wetlands across northern Europe, Asia, and North America

Other Names

Common Names: Bog-Rosemary, Marsh Andromeda, Marsh Holy-Rose, Marsh Holywort, Dwarf Bog Rosemary, Marsh Holy Rose, Northern Bog Rosemary, Rosmarinlyng, Rosmarinheide, Polei-Gränke

Scientific Names: , Andromeda polifolia, Andromeda polifolia var. latifolia, Andromeda polifolia subsp. pumila, Andromeda canescens, Andromeda polifolia var. media, Andromeda glaucifolia, Andromeda polifolia f. acerosa, Andromeda polifolia var. rosmarinifolia, Andromeda glaucophylla var. latifolia

GBIF Accepted Name: Andromeda polifolia L.