Myrica gale

Myrica gale grows in NW Europe and N America along waterfronts, heaths, marshes, forest floors and dunes.

The shrub grows very thin with reddish-brown shoots, but the leaves are wonderfully fragrant. They have glands on the underside that give off a resinous smell when touched or bruised.

The dull green leaves are sharply serrated, elongated and leathery.

Get a warm rusty brown color in the fall

The bloom consists of catkins that bloom before the leaf emerges.

Male shrubs can be recognized by the large golden brown catkins while the females are half as small and paler.

After flowering, the small gray-brown fruits appear.