Bog Myrtle

An unsightly and (in the wild) rare shrub with many uses! First and foremost, the wonderfully sweet scent of its leaves stands out, which is precisely why mosquitoes can't find you as easily. In the past, the plant was widely used as a medicinal plant, for example, against toothache. It was also used in tanning and (still is) for extracting a yellow dye. Before the discovery of hops, bog myrtle was used in beer; now it has been rediscovered in special, artisanal beers. Florists like to use the winter twigs in bouquets; in the past, they were often incorporated among tulips for stem stability. Plants produce female or male catkins; one plant can produce female catkins one year and male catkins another year. They prefer moist soil.

Names:
Latin: Myrica gale
Dutch: Gagel
Also known as: Gagelstruik
English: Sweet Gale