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Smith, R.W.

Andromeda polifolia var. glaucophylla

Andromeda polifolia L. var. glaucophylla (Link) DC.

Bog Rosemary, Bog-rosemary

Ericaceae (Heath Family)

Synonym(s): Andromeda glaucophylla, Andromeda glaucophylla var. iodandra, Andromeda polifolia ssp. glaucophylla

USDA Symbol: ANPOG

USDA Native Status: L48 (N), CAN (N), GL (N), SPM (N)

This bog-rosemary variety is a low, evergreen shrub growing from 8 to 30 inches tall. The shrub does not have many branches, but many shrubs will grow together to form a clump. Firm, narrow, blue-green leaves are covered with fine, white hairs on the underside. Leaf margins roll under. Several small, bell-shaped, pink or white flowers occur together in a curved umbel at the tips of branches.

From the Image Gallery

3 photo(s) available in the Image Gallery

Plant Characteristics

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Shrub
Leaf Retention: Evergreen
Leaf Complexity: Simple
Fruit Type: Capsule
Size Notes: Up to about 30 inches tall.
Fruit: Blue, Brown

Bloom Information

Bloom Color: White , Pink
Bloom Time: May , Jun , Jul , Aug , Sep

Distribution

USA: CT , IL , IN , MA , ME , MI , MN , NH , NJ , NY , OH , PA , RI , VT , WI , WV
Canada: NB , NL , NS , PE
Native Distribution: Nf. to Sask., s. to NJ, n. IN, & n.e. MN
Native Habitat: Acid bogs

Growing Conditions

Light Requirement: Part Shade
Soil Moisture: Wet
Soil pH: Acidic (pH<6.8)
Soil Description: Organic peats, sands and mucks.
Conditions Comments: Bog rosemary demands strongly acid soil. It has no serious disease or insect problems. Creeping rootstocks form large patches.

Benefit

Warning: POISONOUS PARTS: All parts. Toxic only in large quantities. Symptoms include watering of mouth, eyes, and nose; loss of energy, slow pulse, vomiting, low blood pressure, lack of coordination, convulsions, and progressive paralysis. Toxic Principle: Andromedotoxin. (Poisonous Plants of N.C.)
Conspicuous Flowers: yes

Propagation

Commercially Avail: yes

Bibliography

Bibref 902 - Ex situ plant conservation : supporting species survival in the wild (2004) Guerrant, E. O.; K. Havens; M. Maunder

Search More Titles in Bibliography

Web Reference

Webref 38 - Flora of North America (2019) Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis, MO & Harvard University Herbaria, Cambridge, MA.
Webref 23 - Southwest Environmental Information Network (2009) SEINet - Arizona Chapter

Additional resources

USDA: Find Andromeda polifolia var. glaucophylla in USDA Plants
FNA: Find Andromeda polifolia var. glaucophylla in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Andromeda polifolia var. glaucophylla

Metadata

Record Modified: 2022-11-21
Research By: TWC Staff

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