Does it need full sun?

It prefers full sun to partial shade, provided the soil stays consistently moist.

Can I grow it in regular garden soil?

No, it requires highly acidic, peaty soil to survive.

Plant guide

Bog rosemary.

Andromeda polifolia

Pronounced an-DROM-eh-dah pol-ih-FO-lee-ah

Also known as Bog-Rosemary, Common bog rosemary, Wild Rosemary

Wild Rosemary — Photo by Oleksandr Shynder (CC BY) via iNaturalist

Bog rosemary is a charming, low growing evergreen shrub that thrives in cool, acidic, and boggy conditions. It produces delicate, bell shaped pink or white flowers in the spring. You will find it naturally occurring in peat bogs and wet heaths across northern regions.

At a glance

Care level: Moderate
Plant type: Evergreen shrub
Light: Full sun to partial shade
Indoor light: Bright indirect
Water: Every 2 to 5 days
Mature size: 1 to 2 feet
Growth rate: Slow
Hardiness: USDA 2 to 6
Bloom time: Late spring to early summer

Care

Keep the soil consistently moist and acidic to mimic its natural bog habitat. Watch for yellowing leaves, which often signal that the soil pH has become too high. Ensure the plant stays cool, as it does not handle extreme heat well.

Watering: Keep the soil constantly damp, never allowing it to dry out completely.
Feeding: Use an acid loving plant fertilizer sparingly during the spring.
Pruning: Lightly trim after flowering to maintain a tidy shape.
Repotting: Repot only when the plant becomes rootbound, using a peat based mix.
Soil: Peaty, acidic, moisture retentive soil
Soil pH: 4.5 to 5.5
Temperature: -35 to 25°C
Humidity: 60 to 90%
Drought tolerance: Low
Lifespan: Perennial, typically 10 to 20 years
Deer and rabbits: High

Signs it needs repotting

Roots growing out of drainage holes
Water running straight through the pot
Stunted growth during the growing season

Safety

People: All parts of this plant contain grayanotoxins, which can cause severe illness if eaten.
Pets: This plant is toxic to cats and dogs if ingested.
Children: Keep this plant away from children as ingestion of any part can lead to serious poisoning.
Contact allergens: The foliage can cause mild skin irritation in sensitive individuals.
Airborne allergens: There are no significant reports of airborne allergens.
Edibility: This plant is highly toxic if ingested and should never be consumed.

How to identify it

Narrow, leathery, blue green leaves
Small, nodding, bell shaped flowers
Evergreen foliage with rolled margins
Compact, low growing shrub habit

Height: 0.15 to 0.4m
Spread: 0.3 to 0.6m
Leaves: blue-green, silver-green, evergreen
Flowers: pink, white, 0.5 to 1cm

Problems to watch for

ChlorosisCommon
Root RotCommon
Leaf ScorchUncommon
Leaf SpotUncommon
PhytophthoraUncommon
Twig BlightRare

By symptom

Plant problems by symptom

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Growing it

Propagation: cuttings, division, seed
When to plant: spring, autumn
Overwintering: It is extremely cold hardy and requires no special protection in winter. Ensure the soil remains moist but not frozen solid in a way that prevents water uptake.
In containers: It grows well in containers if you use a specialized peat-based acidic mix and keep the pot sitting in a shallow tray of water.

Stem Cuttings

Take semi-hardwood cuttings in late summer.
Dip the base in rooting hormone.
Place in a moist peat and perlite mix under high humidity.

Group this plant with other acid-loving bog species to ensure consistent soil pH and moisture levels.

Grows well with

Small cranberry · They share the same requirements for acidic, boggy soil conditions.
Sundew · This carnivorous plant thrives in the same nutrient-poor, wet habitats.

Similar species

Bog Laurel · It shares a similar appearance and preference for cool, wet, acidic sites.

Science

Family: Ericaceae
Genus: Andromeda
Order: Ericales
Class: Magnoliopsida
Native range: Circumpolar regions of the Northern Hemisphere, including North America, Europe, and Asia.
Conservation: It is protected in some regions due to the loss of its specialized bog habitat.

It is a specialized bog plant that survives in acidic, waterlogged environments where few other plants can grow.

Value to wildlife: nectar source
Pollinators: bees
Uses: rock gardens, bog gardens, container planting

Through the year

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Flowering

Fruiting

Foliage

Ecological indicators

Salinity: 1/9
Soil reaction: 2/9
Light: 7/9
Temperature: 2/9
Moisture: 8/9
Nutrients: 1/9

Taxonomy resolved against GBIF.

Questions people ask

Does it need full sun?: It prefers full sun to partial shade, provided the soil stays consistently moist.
Can I grow it in regular garden soil?: No, it requires highly acidic, peaty soil to survive.

Where the name comes from

The genus name refers to the mythological Andromeda, while the species name polifolia means having leaves like polium, a grey-leaved herb now known as Teucrium polium.

Good to know

It is a member of the heath family, closely related to rhododendrons.
The leaves are leathery and have rolled edges to help retain moisture.
It thrives in acidic, nutrient-poor peat soils.

Also in

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This guide was generated with AI on September 26, 2026 and checked against GBIF taxonomy. It is general information, not horticultural or veterinary advice. Read about how we build these guides.