Details Top

Internal ID UUID6440093213745711887529
Scientific name Andromeda polifolia
Authority L.
First published in Sp. Pl. : 393 (1753)

Ethnobotanical Use Top

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General Uses Top

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Common products:
Live plants sold as ornamental stock for rock gardens, peat gardens, and rain gardens; supplied in 9‑cm pots, 1‑L containers, and as sod plugs for restoration. Also used as a research material; institutions obtain plants from specialized nurseries for experimental plots on peatland ecology.

Food and beverages (non-medicinal):
The early‑summer flowers produce nectar that is collected by honey bees; the plant is recorded as a secondary nectar source in European honey‑flora surveys, contributing to regional honey blends. Some beekeepers label the product as “bog rosemary honey” when the nectar predominates.

Properties relevant to use:
Growth form: low, mat‑forming evergreen shrub up to 30 cm tall, with opposite, leathery, glabrous leaves (2–5 cm long) that turn a purplish‑green in autumn and retain colour through winter. Ecological tolerance: thrives in pH 3.5–5.5, water‑logged, peat‑dominated soils, and tolerates temperatures down to –30 °C, making it suitable for USDA zones 2–6. Phenology: flowers May–June, providing an early nectar flow for pollinators. Physiological traits: high root‑shoot allocation enabling survival in anoxic conditions, and a relatively high leaf‑area‑to‑mass ratio that aids in light capture in shaded bog margins. These characteristics underpin its use as a low‑maintenance ornamental in water‑saturated sites and as a reference species for studies of peatland carbon and water flux.

Standards and regulation:
Commercial production follows the International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC) guidelines for export of plant material, with EU Plant Passports and US APHIS phytosanitary certificates required for cross‑border trade. Seeds for propagation are subject to the International Seed Testing Association (ISTA) germination standards; cuttings are produced under certified nursery hygiene protocols to meet regional plant‑health ordinances.

Sustainability and sourcing:
The species is primarily propagated in commercial nurseries; wild harvesting is rare and generally prohibited in protected peatland habitats to preserve biodiversity. Sustainable practices include the use of peat‑free growing media (e.g., coir or bark‑based substrates) and closed‑loop water systems that minimize nutrient runoff, aligning with the EU’s Sustainable Use of Peatlands directive and US Sustainable Agriculture standards. Market demand is met through routine propagation cycles, with no evidence of over‑exploitation of wild populations.

Synonyms Top

Scientific name Authority First published in
Rhododendron polifolium (L.) Scop. Fl. Carniol. , ed. 2, 1: 287 (1771)
Andromeda polifolia var. media Aiton Hort. Kew. 2: 68 (1789)
Andromeda americana DC. Prodr. 7: 607 (1839)
Andromeda canadensis Cels ex Lam. Encycl. 1: 158 (1783)
Andromeda canescens Small N. Amer. Fl. 29: 61 (1914)
Andromeda glaucifolia Wender. Ind. Sem. Hort. Marb. (1827) in App. n. 2.
Andromeda glaucophylla var. iodandra Fernald Rhodora 18: 102 (1916)
Andromeda glaucophylla f. latifolia (Aiton) Rehder J. Arnold Arbor. 5: 55. 1924
Andromeda glaucophylla var. latifolia (Aiton) Rehder Man. Cult. Trees : 709 (1927)
Andromeda myrifica A.Pabrez ex Hryn. Arch. Nauk Biol. Towarz. Nauk. Warszawsk. 4: 53 (1933)
Andromeda polifolia var. angustifolia Aiton Hort. Kew. 2: 68 (1789)
Andromeda polifolia var. concolor B.Boivin Canad. Field-Naturalist 65: 16 (1951)
Andromeda polifolia f. concolor (B.Boivin) B.Boivin Naturaliste Canad. 94: 630. 1967
Andromeda polifolia var. glaucophylla (Link) DC. Prodr. 7: 607 (1839)
Andromeda polifolia f. humilis Kurtz Bot. Jahrb. Syst. 19(4): 393. 1894 [28 Dec 1894]
Andromeda polifolia subsp. humilis V.M.Vinogr. in Arktich. Fl. SSSR 8: 134 1980
Andromeda polifolia var. jamesiana (Lepage) B.Boivin Naturaliste Canad. 93: 432 (1966)
Andromeda polifolia var. latifolia Aiton Hort. Kew. 2: 68 (1789)
Andromeda polifolia var. latifolia Pall. Fl. Ross. 1(2): ? 1789
Andromeda polifolia var. pusilla Pall. Fl. Ross. 1(2): 53 1789
Andromeda polifolia var. rosmarinifolia Torr. Amer. J. Sci. Arts 4: 62 (1822)
Andromeda rosmarinifolia Gilib. Fl. Lithuan. i. 3.
Andromeda rosmarinifolia Pursh Fl. Amer. Sept. (Pursh) 1: 291. 1813 [Dec 1813]
Andromeda secunda Moench Methodus : 457 (1794)
Andromeda glaucophylla Link Enum. Hort. Berol. Alt. 1: 394 (1821)
Andromeda grandiflora Steud. Nomencl. Bot. [Steudel], ed. 2. 1: 88. 1840
Andromeda jamesiana Lepage Naturaliste Canad. 81: 258 (1954)
Andromeda kalmiifolia Hoffmanns. Verz. Pfl.-Kult. , Nachtr. 1: 204 (1824)
Andromeda oleifolia Hoffmanns. Verz. Pfl.-Kult. , Nachtr. 1: 204 (1824)
Andromeda oleifolia Hort. ex Steud. Nomencl. Bot. [Steudel], ed. 2. 1: 89 (1840)
Andromeda polifolia subsp. glaucophylla (Link) Hultén Acta Univ. Lund., 2 , 44(1): 1242 (1948)
Andromeda polifolia subsp. pumila V.M.Vinogr. Arktich. Fl. SSSR 8: 134 (1980)
Andromeda revoluta Steud. Nomencl. Bot. [Steudel], ed. 2. 1: 89. 1840
Andromeda pumila (V.M.Vinogr.) Chepinoga Botanica Pacifica 12(2): 123 2023

Common names Top

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Language Common/alternative name
English bog-rosemary
English bog rosemary
Arabic أندروميدة ذات أوراق قطبية
Belarusian дурэц
Belarusian імшарніца
Belarusian тухлянка
Belarusian дуброўнік
Belarusian андрамеда
Czech kyhanka sivolistá
Danish rosmarinlyng
Danish almindelig rosmarinlyng
German poleirosmarinheide
German sumpfrosmarin
German gränke
German andromeda rosmarinifolia
German rosmarinheide
German polei-gränke
Estonian harilik küüvits
Finnish suokukka
French andromède
Croatian planinski ružmarin
Hungarian közönséges tőzegrozmaring
Icelandic ljósalyng
Japanese ヒメシャクナゲ
Japanese ヒメシャクナゲ属
Lithuanian siauralapė balžuva
Lithuanian balžuva
Latvian daudzlapu andromeda
Latvian polijlapu andromēda
Latvian polijlapu andromeda
Latvian daudzlapu andromēda
Norwegian Bokmål kvitlyng
Norwegian Bokmål hvitlyng
Dutch lavendelheide
Dutch lavendelhei
Norwegian Nynorsk kvitlyng
Polish modrzewnica północna
Polish modrzewnica pospolita
Polish modrzewnica zwyczajna
Russian Андромеда, растение
Russian Подбел сизолистный
Russian Андромеда
Russian bog rosemary
Russian Белолистник
Russian Бесплодница
Russian Бесплодный куст
Russian Дикий розмарин
Russian Подбел дубровниколистный
Russian Подбел многолистный
Russian Подбел обыкновенный
Russian Подбел
Russian Чахоточная трава
Russian Тундрица
Russian Пьяный болотник
se alášrássi
Slovak androméda sivolistá
Slovak andromédka sivolistá
Slovenian rožmarinka
Slovenian navadna rožmarinka
Swedish rosling
Swedish roslingsläktet
Swedish daggrosling
tt Балавыз яфраклы саз куагы
Ukrainian багниця
Ukrainian розмарин дикий
Ukrainian андромеда ряснолиста
Ukrainian андромеда білоповстиста
Ukrainian андромеда багатолиста
Ukrainian андромеда
Chinese 姬石楠花
Chinese 青姬木
Chinese 仙女越橘

Subspecies (abbr. subsp./ssp.) Top

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Varieties (abbr. var.) Top

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Subvarieties (abbr. subvar.) Top

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Forms (abbr. f.) Top

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Germination/Propagation Top

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Begin at 20°C for 6 weeks, cool to 4°C for 6 weeks, then gradually increase to 10°C over 6 weeks. If no germination, the cycle is repeated.
Maintain seeds at a constant 10°C.
sow in acid medium; prone to damping off

Distribution (via POWO/KEW) Top

Legend for the distribution data:
- Doubtful data
- Extinct
- Introduced
- Native
  • Asia-temperate
    • China
      • Manchuria
    • Eastern Asia
      • Japan
      • Korea
    • Russian Far East
      • Amur
      • Kamchatka
      • Khabarovsk
      • Kuril Islands
      • Magadan
      • Primorye
      • Sakhalin
    • Siberia
      • Altay
      • Buryatiya
      • Chita
      • Irkutsk
      • Krasnoyarsk
      • Tuva
      • West Siberia
      • Yakutskiya
  • Europe
    • Eastern Europe
      • Baltic States
      • Belarus
      • Central European Russia
      • East European Russia
      • North European Russia
      • Northwest European Russia
      • South European Russia
      • Ukraine
    • Middle Europe
      • Austria
      • Belgium
      • Czechoslovakia
      • Germany
      • Hungary
      • Netherlands
      • Poland
      • Switzerland
    • Northern Europe
      • Denmark
      • Finland
      • Great Britain
      • Ireland
      • Norway
      • Sweden
    • Southeastern Europe
      • Italy
      • Romania
      • Yugoslavia
    • Southwestern Europe
      • France
  • Northern America
    • Eastern Canada
      • Labrador
      • New Brunswick
      • Newfoundland
      • Nova Scotia
      • Ontario
      • Prince Edward Island
      • Québec
    • North-central U.S.A.
      • Illinois
      • Minnesota
      • Wisconsin
    • Northeastern U.S.A.
      • Connecticut
      • Indiana
      • Maine
      • Massachusetts
      • Michigan
      • New Hampshire
      • New Jersey
      • New York
      • Pennsylvania
      • Rhode Island
      • Vermont
      • West Virginia
    • Northwestern U.S.A.
      • Idaho
      • Washington
    • Subarctic America
      • Alaska
      • Greenland
      • Northwest Territorie
      • Nunavut
      • Yukon
    • Western Canada
      • Alberta
      • British Columbia
      • Manitoba
      • Saskatchewan

Links to other databases Top

Suggest others/fix!
Database ID/link to page
World Flora Online wfo-0000534279
UNII SAE8LBJ216
Canadensys 5487
USDA Plants ANPO
UConn 50
Tropicos 12300001
INPN 82420
Flora of Italy 3733
KEW urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:30021967-2
The Plant List kew-2637263
Open Tree Of Life 1042548
Observations.org 2340
NCBI Taxonomy 95630
NBN Atlas NBNSYS0000003895
Nature Serve 2.148743
IUCN Red List 64263821
IPNI 30021967-2
iNaturalist 119892
IFPNI 761011B6-CDC0-4528-8384-AB443ED80501
GBIF 5333413
Freebase /m/06bdhr
WisFlora 12833
FEIS plants/shrub/andpol
EPPO ADMPO
EOL 583717
Elurikkus 2765
USDA GRIN 3138
Wikipedia Andromeda_polifolia
KEW urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:12712-2
IPNI 12712-2
GBIF 8916915
KEW urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:915774-1
IPNI 915774-1
GBIF 5684063
Canadensys 15843
Tropicos 12300538
KEW urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:326273-1
The Plant List kew-2637175
IPNI 326273-1
iNaturalist 336895
GBIF 6400198
EPPO ADMGL
USDA GRIN 467872
Tropicos 50065220
KEW urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:326335-1
IPNI 326335-1
KEW urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:326292-1
IPNI 326292-1
GBIF 5684264
CMAUP NPO23426
PFAF Andromeda glaucophylla
PFAF Andromeda polifolia

Genomes (via NCBI) Top

No reference genome is available on NCBI yet. We are constantly monitoring for new data.

Scientific Literature Top

Below are displayed the latest 15 articles published in PMC (PubMed Central®) and other sources (DOI number only)!
If you wish to see all the related articles click here.
Title Authors Publication Released IDs
Fecal DNA metabarcoding reveals seasonal and annual variation in willow ptarmigan diet Ingvaldsen EW, Østnes JE, Kleven O, Davey M, Fossøy F, Nilsen EB R Soc Open Sci 28-Feb-2024
PMCID:PMC10898975
doi:10.1098/rsos.231518
PMID:38420626
Vaccinium uliginosum L. (bog bilberry) and the search for its alleged toxicity: a review Vaneková Z, Holloway P, Rollinger JM Front Toxicol 31-Jan-2024
PMCID:PMC10864615
doi:10.3389/ftox.2024.1358840
PMID:38357417
Vascular plants and mosses as bioindicators of variability of the coastal pine forest (Empetro nigri-Pinetum) Wolski GJ, Sobisz Z, Mitka J, Kruk A, Jukonienė I, Popiela A Sci Rep 02-Jan-2024
PMCID:PMC10761821
doi:10.1038/s41598-023-50189-y
PMID:38167576
Peatland restoration pathways to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions and retain peat carbon Mander Ü, Espenberg M, Melling L, Kull A Biogeochemistry 08-Dec-2023
PMCID:PMC11068583
doi:10.1007/s10533-023-01103-1
PMID:38707516
Acclimation of subarctic vegetation to warming and increased cloudiness Ndah FA, Maljanen M, Kasurinen A, Rinnan R, Michelsen A, Kotilainen T, Kivimäenpää M Plant Environ Interact 28-Nov-2023
PMCID:PMC10840376
doi:10.1002/pei3.10130
PMID:38323130
Mercury deposition and redox transformation processes in peatland constrained by mercury stable isotopes Li C, Jiskra M, Nilsson MB, Osterwalder S, Zhu W, Mauquoy D, Skyllberg U, Enrico M, Peng H, Song Y, Björn E, Bishop K Nat Commun 15-Nov-2023
PMCID:PMC10652010
doi:10.1038/s41467-023-43164-8
PMID:37968321
Reversal in the drought stress response of the Scots pine forest ecosystem: Local soil water regime as a key to improving climate change resilience Bogachev MI, Gafurov AM, Iskandirov PY, Kaplun DI, Kayumov AR, Lyanova AI, Pyko NS, Pyko SA, Safonova AN, Sinitca AM, Usmanov BM, Tishin DV Heliyon 29-Oct-2023
PMCID:PMC10638002
doi:10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e21574
PMID:37954317
The most polyphagous insect herbivore? Host plant associations of the Meadow spittlebug, Philaenus spumarius (L.) Thompson V, Harkin C, Stewart AJ PLoS One 04-Oct-2023
PMCID:PMC10602594
doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0291734
PMID:37792900
The Role of the Hercynian Mountains of Central Europe in Shaping Plant Migration Patterns in the Pleistocene—A Review Urbaniak J, Kwiatkowski P Plants (Basel) 20-Sep-2023
PMCID:PMC10537488
doi:10.3390/plants12183317
PMID:37765481
Adaptive Relationships in Hemi-Boreal Forests: Tree Species Responses to Competition, Stress, and Disturbance Petrokas R, Manton M Plants (Basel) 13-Sep-2023
PMCID:PMC10535793
doi:10.3390/plants12183256
PMID:37765418
Night-time water relations and gas exchange in cut shoots of five boreal dwarf shrub species: impact of soil water availability Kupper P, Tullus A, Rohula-Okunev G Physiol Mol Biol Plants 31-Aug-2023
PMCID:PMC10564692
doi:10.1007/s12298-023-01350-4
PMID:37829697
The relative importance of abiotic and biotic environmental conditions for taxonomic, phylogenetic, and functional diversity of spiders across spatial scales Måsviken J, Dalén L, Norén K, Dalerum F Oecologia 01-Jun-2023
PMCID:PMC10307692
doi:10.1007/s00442-023-05383-0
PMID:37261510
Phytochemical Composition of Cranberry (Vaccinium oxycoccos L.) Fruits Growing in Protected Areas of Lithuania Šedbarė R, Sprainaitytė S, Baublys G, Viskelis J, Janulis V Plants (Basel) 13-May-2023
PMCID:PMC10223228
doi:10.3390/plants12101974
PMID:37653891
NDVI changes in the Arctic: Functional significance in the moist acidic tundra of Northern Alaska Jespersen RG, Anderson-Smith M, Sullivan PF, Dial RJ, Welker JM PLoS One 28-Apr-2023
PMCID:PMC10146450
doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0285030
PMID:37115765
Inference of future bog succession trajectory from spatial chronosequence of changing aapa mires Kolari TH, Tahvanainen T Ecol Evol 18-Apr-2023
PMCID:PMC10111175
doi:10.1002/ece3.9988
PMID:37082320

Phytochemical Profile Top

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Below are displayed the proven (via scientific papers) natural compounds!
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Name PubChem ID Canonical SMILES MW Found in Proof
> Benzenoids / Phenols / 4-alkoxyphenols
(E)-1-(4-hydroxyphenoxy)icos-4-en-3-one 15458654 Click to see 402.60 unknown via CMAUP database
> Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Prenol lipids / Terpene glycosides / Iridoid O-glycosides
(1R,4aR,7R,7aS)-7-hydroxy-7-[[(E)-3-(4-hydroxyphenyl)prop-2-enoyl]oxymethyl]-1-[(2S,3R,4S,5S,6R)-3,4,5-trihydroxy-6-(hydroxymethyl)oxan-2-yl]oxy-4a,7a-dihydro-1H-cyclopenta[c]pyran-4-carboxylic acid 163185883 Click to see C1=CC(C2C1C(=COC2OC3C(C(C(C(O3)CO)O)O)O)C(=O)O)(COC(=O)C=CC4=CC=C(C=C4)O)O 536.50 unknown https://doi.org/10.1002/ARDP.19803130809
(1S,4aR,7R,7aS)-7-hydroxy-7-[[(Z)-3-(4-hydroxyphenyl)prop-2-enoyl]oxymethyl]-1-[(2S,3R,4S,5S,6R)-3,4,5-trihydroxy-6-(hydroxymethyl)oxan-2-yl]oxy-4a,7a-dihydro-1H-cyclopenta[c]pyran-4-carboxylic acid 163194625 Click to see 536.50 unknown https://doi.org/10.1002/ARDP.19803130809
7-hydroxy-7-[3-(4-hydroxyphenyl)prop-2-enoyloxymethyl]-1-[3,4,5-trihydroxy-6-(hydroxymethyl)oxan-2-yl]oxy-4a,7a-dihydro-1H-cyclopenta[c]pyran-4-carboxylic acid 76401261 Click to see 536.50 unknown https://doi.org/10.1002/ARDP.19803130809
> Organic oxygen compounds / Organooxygen compounds / Carbonyl compounds / Alpha,beta-unsaturated ketones / Enones
(E)-1-methoxyicos-4-en-3-one 15458653 Click to see 324.50 unknown via CMAUP database
> Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Flavonoids / Flavones / Flavonols
3-Hydroxy-5,7-dimethoxy-2-(4-methoxyphenyl)chromen-4-one 624831 Click to see 328.30 unknown via CMAUP database
3,7-Dihydroxy-5,3',4'-trimethoxyflavone 14234929 Click to see 344.30 unknown via CMAUP database
3,7-Dihydroxy-5,4'-dimethoxyflavone 44259527 Click to see COC1=CC=C(C=C1)C2=C(C(=O)C3=C(O2)C=C(C=C3OC)O)O 314.29 unknown via CMAUP database
Ombuin 5320287 Click to see 330.29 unknown via CMAUP database
Quercetin 3',4',7-trimethyl ether 5748558 Click to see 344.30 unknown via CMAUP database
> Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Flavonoids / Flavonoid glycosides / Flavonoid O-glycosides / Flavonoid-3-O-glycosides
2-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)-5,7-dihydroxy-3-[(2R,3S,4R,5R)-4-hydroxy-5-(hydroxymethyl)-3-[(2R,3R,4S,5R)-3,4,5-trihydroxyoxan-2-yl]oxyoxolan-2-yl]oxychromen-4-one 162842992 Click to see 566.50 unknown https://doi.org/10.1055/S-2006-962769
> Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Flavonoids / O-methylated flavonoids / 7-O-methylated flavonoids
3,5,7,4'-Tetramethoxyflavone 631095 Click to see 342.30 unknown via CMAUP database
Ayanin 5280682 Click to see 344.30 unknown via CMAUP database
Jaranol 5318869 Click to see 314.29 unknown via CMAUP database
Kaempferol 3,7,4'-trimethyl ether 5468749 Click to see COC1=CC=C(C=C1)C2=C(C(=O)C3=C(C=C(C=C3O2)OC)O)OC 328.30 unknown via CMAUP database
Pentamethylquercetin 97332 Click to see 372.40 unknown via CMAUP database
Retusin 5352005 Click to see COC1=C(C=C(C=C1)C2=C(C(=O)C3=C(C=C(C=C3O2)OC)O)OC)OC 358.30 unknown via CMAUP database

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