Bog Rosemary
Andromeda polifolia
Bog rosemary is a low, slender evergreen shrub of cold northern bogs, with blue-green needle-like leaves and nodding pink urn-shaped flowers. A choice plant for acidic, peaty wetland gardens. Despite a traditional cold-steeped 'sun tea,' modern toxicology finds no genuinely safe way to drink this plant — it contains grayanotoxin throughout, and even cold infusion doesn't reliably prevent poisoning. Admire it; don't brew it.
- Family
- Ericaceae
- Type
- shrub
- Lifespan
- perennial
- Height
- 1–2 ft
- Spacing
- 1–3 ft apart
- Light
- sun, part shade, shade
- Soil moisture
- moist, wet
- Soil pH
- acidic
- Bloom
- June, July
- Bloom colors
- white, pink
- Wildlife value
- pollinators
- Landscape uses
- border, rain garden
- Native states
- AK, CT, ID, IL, IN, MA, ME, MI, MN, NH, NJ, NY, OH, PA, RI, VT, WA, WI, WV