Bog Myrtle (Myrica gale) seeds
- Ericaceous plant that produces a very spicy, earthy oil. The dried leaves were used as a spice for dishes and beer in the Middle Ages.
- Contents: Approx. 100 seeds
- Open-pollinated variety, seed tested regularly
Regular price:
€4.59
Content: 100 Single seed
Product number: 1145 GTIN: 4250601208039
Description
Bog Myrtle (syn. Gale palustris) grows in marshy areas of Northern Europe. It is a perennial, deciduous shrub with a growth height of 50-150cm.
Because of its spicy and earthy flavour, which reminds of bay leaves, bog myrtle leaves were once used as a spice. However, the use as a beer spice is particularly important. Long before the introduction of the German beer purity law, the "Reinheitsgebot", beer was often flavoured with a mixture of aromatic and partly intoxicating herbs. This beer style, the so-called gruit beer owes its name to the plant, which was widely called grut or gruit in ancient times.
The leaves are, furthermore, an important source of nutrition for the caterpillars of the heather moth, the clouded buff, and the sweet gale moth. The blossoms are suitable for dying fabrics yellow.
Today, the bog myrtle is on the Red List of endangered plant varieties as its habitat - the swamp - is strongly endangered by the drainage and shading as well as the peat extraction.
Because of its spicy and earthy flavour, which reminds of bay leaves, bog myrtle leaves were once used as a spice. However, the use as a beer spice is particularly important. Long before the introduction of the German beer purity law, the "Reinheitsgebot", beer was often flavoured with a mixture of aromatic and partly intoxicating herbs. This beer style, the so-called gruit beer owes its name to the plant, which was widely called grut or gruit in ancient times.
The leaves are, furthermore, an important source of nutrition for the caterpillars of the heather moth, the clouded buff, and the sweet gale moth. The blossoms are suitable for dying fabrics yellow.
Today, the bog myrtle is on the Red List of endangered plant varieties as its habitat - the swamp - is strongly endangered by the drainage and shading as well as the peat extraction.
Plant profile
| Lifecycle | Hardy, Perennial |
|---|---|
| Species | Myricaceae |
| Characteristics | Needs cold to germinate |
| Eventual height | 30-150 cm |
| Flower colour | Brown, Red, Yellow |
| Flowering months | April, May |
| Root system | Runners |
Growing instructions
| When to sow outdoors | August, September |
|---|---|
| Sowing depth | 0.5 cm |
| Germination temperature | 3-5°C |
| Sunlight | Full sun |
| Planting distance | 100 cm |
Sowing and care
The seeds naturally have a waxy surface - the wax should be washed off with detergent and the seeds should be rinsed with clear water.
Bog is a frost germinator. As a result, sow them either in autumn or stratify for 3 months at cold temperatures (also possible in the refrigerator) and sow them then. Furthermore, it is a light germinator. Therefore, only scatter the seeds on the soil and press on lightly.
Loves moist, sunny locations at the edge of ponds and needs sour soil.
Caution: The bog myrtle forms many runners fast. In order to prevent this, a rhizome barrier should be built in.
Bog is a frost germinator. As a result, sow them either in autumn or stratify for 3 months at cold temperatures (also possible in the refrigerator) and sow them then. Furthermore, it is a light germinator. Therefore, only scatter the seeds on the soil and press on lightly.
Loves moist, sunny locations at the edge of ponds and needs sour soil.
Caution: The bog myrtle forms many runners fast. In order to prevent this, a rhizome barrier should be built in.
Other names
Botanical name: Myrica gale, M tomentosa, Gale palustris, G. belgica
German: Gagel, Gagelstrauch, Moor-Gagel
English: bog-myrtle, sweetgale
French: piment royal, myrte des marais, bois-sent-bon, myrique baumier, myrte bâtard, lorette, galé odorant, piment aquatique
Spanish: mirto de turbero, arrayán brabántico, arrayán de los pantanos, mirto bastardo, mirto de Bonal, mirto de Bravante
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