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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

3,95 €

incl. VAT , plus

SKU: 1145

GTIN: 4250601208039

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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.

Plant description

Species:	Myricaceae
Root system:	Runners
Flower colour:	Yellow Red Brown
Special features:	Needs cold to germinate
Lifecycle:	Perennial Hardy
Flowering months:	April May
Eventual height:	30-150 cm

Growing advice

Sowing depth:	0.5 cm
Planting distance:	100 cm
Sunlight:	Full sun
Germination temperature:	3-5°C
When to sow outdoors:	August September

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.

Other names

Botanical name:	Myrica gale, M tomentosa, Gale palustris, G. belgica
Spanish names:	Mirto de Turbero, Arrayán Brabántico, Arrayán de los Pantanos, Mirto Bastardo, Mirto de Bonal, Mirto de Bravante

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Manufacturer information: Magic Garden Seeds GmbH | Junkersstraße 7 | Regensburg, Germany, 93055 | service@magicgardenseeds.com | https://www.magicgardenseeds.com

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