Sweetgale
Myrica gale
Taxonomy
- Division:
- Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
- Family:
- Myricaceae
- Genus:
- Myrica
- Species:
- Myrica gale
Growth Characteristics
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Growth Habit:
- Shrub
- Height:
- 6-8 ft
- Light Requirements:
- Full Sun, Part Shade, Shade
- Drought Tolerance:
- High
- Bloom Months:
- jul, aug, sep
- Bloom Colors:
- Yellow, Green, Blue, Brown
- Evergreen Shrub:
- Yes
- Landscaping Shrub:
- Yes
Native Range
United States: Alaska, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, North Carolina, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, Canada: Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Northwest Territories, Nunavut, Ontario, Prince Edward Island, Quebec, Saskatchewan, Yukon
Keystone Species Ranking
- Caterpillar Keystone:
- ★☆☆☆☆ Based on number of butterfly and moth species using this genus as host plant (Source: National Wildlife Federation)
Host Plant for Caterpillars
Acleris bowmanana, Acleris fragariana, Acleris hastiana, Acleris kearfottana, Agonopterix walsinghamella, Allen's Aphelia (Aphelia alleniana), Apotomis paludicolana, Apple Sphinx (Sphinx gordius), Apple Sphinx (Sphinx "gordius"), Archips myricana, Argent and sable (Rheumaptera hastata), Argyrotaenia repertana, Bella Moth (Utetheisa bella), Bucculatrix paroptila, Caloptilia asplenifoliatella, Canadian Melanolophia (Melanolophia canadaria), Chain-lined geometer moth (Cingilia catenaria), Coelebs Underwing (Catocala coelebs), Coenophila opacifrons, common eupithecia (Eupithecia miserulata), Confused Morrisonia (Morrisonia confusa), Eugraphe subrosea, Gypsy moth (Lymantria dispar), impressed dagger moth (Acronicta impressa), Itame sulphurea, large looper moth (Autographa ampla), Melanchra assimilis, Mniotype ducta, Nevada buckmoth (Hemileuca nevadensis-complex), Olethreutes galevora, Olethreutes valdanum, Ortholepis myricella, Peppered Moth (Biston betularia), Pero zalissaria, projecta gray (Cleora projecta), Red-banded leafroller (Argyrotaenia velutinana), Red-fronted Emerald (Nemoria rubrifrontaria), Rheumaptera sp., Smeared Dagger Moth (Acronicta oblinita), Sparganothis daphnana, Sphinx poecila, sweetfern leaf casebearer (Acrobasis comptoniella), Syngrapha epigaea, Tacparia atropunctata, Thaxter's Pinion Moth (Lithophane thaxteri), three-lined leafroller (Pandemis limitata), Virginia Tiger Moth (Spilosoma virginica), White-marked Tussock Moth (Orgyia leucostigma), yellow-headed fireworm (Acleris minuta), Young's Dart (Xestia youngii)
Soil Requirements
- Soil Type:
- peaty, acidic, nutrient-poor soil
- pH:
- 4.5 - 6.5 (acidic to slightly acidic)
- Drainage:
- tolerates poor drainage
- Moisture:
- consistently moist
- Notes:
- commonly found in bogs and wetlands
Germination Information
Pre-treatment: Cold-moist stratification for 30 days at 1–5°C (34–41°F).; then Cold-moist stratification for 60 days.
Source: OpenAI GPT-4o