Smith, R.W.
Kalmia angustifolia L.
Sheep laurel, Lambkill kalmia, Lambkill
Ericaceae (Heath Family)
A small, mat-forming
shrub growing 3 ft. tall and usually twice as wide. An
evergreen shrub with small, deep pink, saucer-shaped flowers in dense clusters around
stem, mostly below leaves. Stems trail on the ground, ending in erect branch tips. The glossy, narrowly-oval, leathery leaves are blue-green and turn reddish-green to purple in fall. The flower is a small, purple to red bell, scattered in clusters along the stems.
Because of its colonial habit, Sheep Laurel can form sizable stands. The flowers are miniatures of the larger Mountain Laurel (
K. latifolia). Pale Laurel (
K. polifolia), also known as Bog Laurel, has pink flowers in terminal clusters, 2-edged twigs, and
opposite leaves with rolled edges, very white beneath; it is a northern bog plant and occurs only as far south as northern New Jersey and Pennsylvania. Two other species of Kalmia are found in the southern United States. The
genus name honors Peter Kalm, a student of Linnaeus, who traveled and collected plants in the Americas in the 18th century.
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Plant Characteristics
Duration: Perennial Habit: Shrub Root Type: Tap Leaf Complexity: Simple Leaf Shape: Elliptic Leaf: Green above, pale green below
Flower: Flowers3/8 inch
Fruit: Brown
Size Class: 1-3 ft.
Bloom Information
Bloom Color: Red , Purple
Bloom Time: Jun , Jul
Distribution
USA: CT , DE , ME , MD , MA , MI , NH , NJ , NY , PA , RI , VT , VA , WV , DC
Canada: MB ,
NB ,
NS ,
PE Native Distribution: Lab. to Ont., s., primarily through e. portion of e. states, to GA; also n. MI
Native Habitat: Wet or dry pastures & thickets; swamp & bog borders; wooded stream banks
USDA Native Status: L48(N), CAN(N), SPM(N)
Growing Conditions
Light Requirement: Part Shade
Soil Moisture: Wet
Soil pH: Acidic (pH<6.8)
Soil Description: Wet/organic to dry/sterile soils.
Conditions Comments: Will develop chlorosis caused by iron deficiency if located on limy soils. Slow-growing. Dead-heading encourages better blooms in the following years.
Benefit
Use Wildlife: Low.
Warning: POISONOUS PARTS: All parts. Highly Toxic, Maybe Be Fatal if Eaten! Symptoms include: salivation, watering of eyes and nose, slow pulse, nausea, vomiting, sweating, abdominal pain, headache, tingling of skin, lack of coordination, convulsions, paralysis. Toxic Principle: Andromedotoxin, a resinoid; arbutin, a glycoside. (Poisonous Plants of N.C.)
Sheep Laurel has another common name, lambkill, referring to the fact that this plant is poisonous to sheep and domestic cattle, althought it apparently has no effect on deer. (Strickland)
Conspicuous Flowers: yes
Attracts: Birds , Butterflies
Larval Host: Columbia silkmoth, Northern Blue butterfly (Lycaeides idas).
Butterflies and Moths of North America (BAMONA)
Kalmia angustifolia is a larval host and/or nectar source for:
Last Update: 2012-10-15
