PlantFiles: Bog Rosemary, Common Bog Rosemary, Marsh Andromeda
Andromeda polifolia

Native to North America, Northern Europe, and Northern Asia

I planted 3 small (6" pot) bog rosemary plants in the moist rock section of one of my gardens in 1998. I've been very patient with these as they were browsed the second winter quite badly by deer. This year (04) is the first year that they've finally grown and filled in as I had planned way back when. The show they put on this spring was worth the wait. I've now learned to cover them with netting - and if we have a good snow cover, we don't have a problem.

Other than protecting them against deer in winter, they need no other care. They are planted in a moist to wet area, receive morning sun but are shaded from the hot afternoon sun. They seem quite happy.

A small evergreen shrub from Northern Europe.

Has leathery, dark green, oblong - linear, alternate leaves. Bears urn shaped, pale pink or white flowers borne in umbels of 2-5 flowers.

Flowers March - May

Needs moist, acid, humus rich soil in full sun or partial shade. In areas where the summer temperatures soar it will need to be placed in a cool, shady spot. Very hardy little shrub, great for acid, damp woodland gardens.