Andromeda: Growing and Care

Andromeda is a graceful evergreen shrublet of the heather family with nodding pink, urn-shaped flowers. It is loved for its looks and toughness, but it is important to know that the plant is highly poisonous. Here is what "andromeda" refers to, how to grow it in the garden and what precautions to take.

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What is called andromeda

Bog rosemary (Andromeda polifolia) is a low bog shrublet 10–40 cm tall. Carl Linnaeus named it after the heroine of the Greek myth of Perseus: like Andromeda chained to a rock, the plant is "chained" to bog hummocks. Its common name comes from its narrow, rosemary-like leaves, which are whitish underneath. It grows in peat bogs across Eurasia and North America, and in Ukraine it is found in the bogs of Polissia and the Carpathians.

Japanese pieris (Pieris japonica) is often sold as "Japanese andromeda". It is a larger evergreen shrub, 1–3 m tall, with sprays of white or pink bells in early spring and bright red new leaves.

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Caution: the plant is poisonous

All parts of bog rosemary and pieris contain grayanotoxins (andromedotoxin), which affect the heart and nervous system. Poisoning can cause nausea, weakness and heart rhythm problems, and honey made from these plants can also be toxic. So andromeda must never be used for teas, infusions or home remedies. Plant it away from play areas and places where pets roam, and wear gloves when handling it.

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Growing andromeda in the garden

• Position. Bog rosemary needs sun or light shade and constantly moist soil — ideal by a pond or in a heather or bog garden. Pieris prefers partial shade sheltered from cold winds and early spring sun.
• Soil. It must be acidic (pH 4–5.5) and peaty: sphagnum peat, pine needles and sand. On alkaline soil the plant declines.
• Watering. Bog rosemary can't tolerate drying out — keep the soil moist at all times, using soft rain or standing water.
• Mulch and feeding. Mulch with pine needles or pine bark and feed in spring with a fertiliser for rhododendrons and heathers.
• Winter. Bog rosemary is very hardy and needs no protection. Shield young pieris from wind and bright winter sun with conifer branches for the first few winters.

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What to plant it with

Andromeda looks good with other acid-loving plants: heather, heaths, cranberry, lingonberry, rhododendrons, blueberries and conifers. Low bog rosemary suits the front of a bog garden, while pieris works in a shady mixed border.

FAQ

Can andromeda be brewed as tea?

No. The plant is poisonous, and folk recipes using it are dangerous to health.

Does andromeda need winter protection?

Bog rosemary doesn't — it's very hardy. Young pieris is best protected from wind and sun in its first years.

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Author: Maria Svitlovir

Graduated from Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv, Institute of Biology and Medicine (2001). BSc in Biology, MSc in Horticulture. Writes about plants, works at a garden centre selecting and repotting plants, and contributes to plant reference guides.

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