bog rosemary

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bog rosemary

plant

Also known as: Andromeda polifolia, moorwort

Written and fact-checked by The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica

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Also called:: moorwort

Related Topics:: evergreen

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bog rosemary, (Andromeda polifolia), low evergreen shrub of the heath family (Ericaceae). The plant is native to bogs in northeastern North America, northern and central Europe, and northern Asia. Several ornamental cultivars have been developed, though the plant requires cool moist conditions and acidic soil to flourish.

Bog rosemary grows 30 to 60 cm (1 to 2 feet) tall and has a creeping rootstock. The narrow green leaves are about 3 cm (1.2 inches) long and resemble those of true rosemary (Salvia rosmarinus), which is unrelated. The small pinkish white flowers are urn-shaped and grow in small terminal clusters. All parts of the plant contain andromedotoxin and are considered poisonous.

The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica This article was most recently revised and updated by Melissa Petruzzello.