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Makin, Julie

Myrica gale

Myrica gale L.

Sweetgale

Myricaceae (Bayberry Family)

Synonym(s): Gale palustris, Myrica gale var. subarctica, Myrica gale var. subglabra, Myrica gale var. tomentosa

USDA Symbol: MYGA

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

Sweetgale is a low-growing, 2-6 ft. high, deciduous, bushy shrub with glossy, dark-green to grayish foliage. The long leaves are sweet-scented. Inconspicuous flowers are borne in catkins.

Sweetgale is a member of the wax-myrtle or bayberry family (family Myricaceae), which occurs nearly worldwide, with about 40 species of small trees and shrubs; 5 native tree species and 3 shrub species in North America.

From the Image Gallery

13 photo(s) available in the Image Gallery

Plant Characteristics

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Shrub
Leaf Retention: Deciduous
Leaf Arrangement: Alternate
Leaf Complexity: Simple
Fruit Type: Drupe
Size Notes: Up to about 6 feet tall.
Leaf: Gray-Green

Bloom Information

Bloom Color: Yellow , Green , Blue , Brown
Bloom Time: Jul , Aug , Sep

Distribution

USA: AK , CT , MA , ME , MI , MN , NC , NH , NJ , NY , OH , OR , PA , RI , VT , WA , WI
Canada: AB , BC , MB , NB , NL , NS , ON , PE , QC , SK
Native Distribution: Lab. to AK, s. to Long Island, MI, MN & n.w. OR; rarely along mts. to NC & TN
Native Habitat: Bogs; pond shores

Growing Conditions

Water Use: Medium
Light Requirement: Sun , Part Shade , Shade
Soil Moisture: Moist , Wet
CaCO3 Tolerance: Low
Soil Description: Wet to moist soils.

Benefit

Interesting Foliage: yes
Fragrant Foliage: yes
Attracts: Birds

National Wetland Indicator Status

Region:	AGCP	AK	AW	CB	EMP	GP	HI	MW	NCNE	WMVE
Status:	OBL	OBL			OBL	OBL		OBL	OBL	OBL

This information is derived from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers National Wetland Plant List, Version 3.1 (Lichvar, R.W. 2013. The National Wetland Plant List: 2013 wetland ratings. Phytoneuron 2013-49: 1-241). Click here for map of regions.

Bibliography

Bibref 841 - Native Alternatives to Invasive Plants (2006) Burrell, C. C.

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 Myrica gale in USDA Plants
FNA: Find Myrica gale in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Myrica gale

Metadata

Record Modified: 2022-10-19
Research By: TWC Staff

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