Myrica gale

If you've ever been swimming or canoeing on a lake in BC (or across Canada for that matter) and you've seen a shrub growing right in the water along the shore, chances are it was sweetgale (Myrica gale) which is also known as bog-myrtle, sweet willow, or Dutch myrtle. It is a tough, super hardy shrub for wet locations that will spread by underground suckers and would work admirably to prevent shoreline erosion. It has catkins like a willow that are yellowish green. The leaves have a sweet resinous scent and is used as an insect repellent. Parts of the plant have also been used as a remedy and as a flavouring for foods Sweetgale is a larval host for many moth species.

Delightful and much used historically, this deciduous shrub is native to the bogs of the northern United States, Canada, and parts of Europe (Scottish Moors!). Sweetly-scented, dark, blue-green foliage appears after the yellow-green spring catkins. If male and female plants are present, small cones will produce tiny winged nutlets. The foliage of this charming native has been used for the making of beer (before hops), schnapps flavoring, tea, insect repellent, royal wedding bouquets and soaps for treating acne. It is a favorite food of beavers and also supposedly used by Sasquatch; however, we are not sure what for! This shrub is nitrogen fixing, a good choice for hedging and perfect for wet areas of the garden. This plant should not be ingested by pregnant women; our plants are unsexed seedlings. PSh/M-W