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Myrica gale

Bog-myrtle · Meadow-fern · Sweet Gale · Sweetgale

Family MyricaceaeGenus Myrica

Knobbly yellow-green catkins clustered along a woody twig among leathery blue-green leaves with rusty brown scales.
FruitHajotthuCC BY 3.0

About the plant

What it is and where it grows — not part of any germination protocol.

The plant

Habit
shrubPlants of the World Online
Habit
Perennial, ShrubPLANTS Database
Height
6.0 ft1.8 mPLANTS Database
Flower
BluePLANTS Database
Blooms
SpringPLANTS Database
Native range
Alaska, Alberta, Baltic States, Belgium, British Columbia, Connecticut and elsewhereGBIF Backbone Taxonomy

Growing conditions

Sun
Shade tolerance: LowPLANTS Database
Soil
Adapted to medium, fine textured soilsPLANTS Database
Soil pH
5.0-7.8PLANTS Database
Moisture
Moisture use: MediumPLANTS Database
Watering
Drought tolerance: MediumPLANTS Database

Toxicity is noted only where a source states it. No note here is not a finding of safety.

Sources: Plants of the World Online — Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew; PLANTS Database — USDA NRCS; GBIF Backbone Taxonomy — Global Biodiversity Information Facility.

Worth knowing

  • In Germany, Belgium and the Netherlands it was much used in gruit, which flavored beer from the Middle Ages until hops took over in the 16th century. Wikipedia: Myrica gale
  • Its leaves have a sweet resinous scent, used by campers to keep biting insects out of tents. It is a favorite food of beavers. Wikipedia: Myrica gale

This source reports three treatments. All are shown.

Protocol 1

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1996

Difficulty Low Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around September 17, 2027 for a May 3 last frost. Too late for spring 2027 — that needed starting on September 16, 2026.

  1. Dry storage

    Duration: 180 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C

  2. Gibberellic acid soak

  3. Sow and cover

    Temperature: 70°F 21°C

about 6 months from start to sowing. Then 21 days to germinate.

90% germination in 7–21 days.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 1st Supplement — N. C. Deno, 1996 · 1st Supplement, Myrica p. 60Public domain
Show the original text
Myrica (Myricaceae). M. gale (DS 6 m) germ. 70L(30% in 11-16 d), 70 GA-3(90% in 1-3 w), and none in 70D or 40-70D. DS for 1 y had no effect, but seeds were dead after DS for 2 y.
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 1st Supplement, 1st Supplement, Myrica p. 60. Quoted exactly. Every value on this card comes from this record, except the difficulty rating, which is ours; the step names come from a fixed list.

Protocol 2

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1996

Difficulty Moderate Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around September 22, 2027 for a May 3 last frost. Too late for spring 2027 — that needed starting on September 21, 2026.

  1. Dry storage

    Duration: 180 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C

  2. Sow and cover

    Temperature: 70°F 21°C Light: light

about 6 months from start to sowing. Then 16 days to germinate.

30% germination in 11–16 days.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 1st Supplement — N. C. Deno, 1996 · 1st Supplement, Myrica p. 60Public domain
Show the original text
Myrica (Myricaceae). M. gale (DS 6 m) germ. 70L(30% in 11-16 d), 70 GA-3(90% in 1-3 w), and none in 70D or 40-70D. DS for 1 y had no effect, but seeds were dead after DS for 2 y.
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 1st Supplement, 1st Supplement, Myrica p. 60. Quoted exactly. Every value on this card comes from this record, except the difficulty rating, which is ours; the step names come from a fixed list.

Protocol 3

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1996

  1. Dry storage

    Duration: 180 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C

  2. Sow and cover

    Temperature: 70°F 21°C Light: dark

about 6 months from start to sowing.

0% germination.

Nothing germinated at 70.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 1st Supplement — N. C. Deno, 1996 · 1st Supplement, Myrica p. 60Public domain
Show the original text
Myrica (Myricaceae). M. gale (DS 6 m) germ. 70L(30% in 11-16 d), 70 GA-3(90% in 1-3 w), and none in 70D or 40-70D. DS for 1 y had no effect, but seeds were dead after DS for 2 y.
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 1st Supplement, 1st Supplement, Myrica p. 60. Quoted exactly. Every value on this card comes from this record; the step names come from a fixed list.

How each step is done, in Deno’s words, and what Verified and Derived mean.

Germination trials

Readers’ own records of sowing this species, published after review. Share your trial · All trials

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