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Ledum glandulosum

Ledum glandulosum Nutt.

Western Labrador Tea, Trapper's Tea

Ericaceae (Heath Family)

Synonym(s): Ledum glandulosum var. californicum, Ledum groenlandicum ssp. glandulosum

USDA Symbol: LEGL

USDA Native Status: L48 (N), CAN (N)

A shrub with white flowers in roundish clusters at branch ends.

A relative, Bog Labrador Tea (L. groenlandicum) is found across Canada and occurs in the West from Alaska south to the coast of Oregon; it has a rusty hue to the woolly underside of the leaf.

From the Image Gallery

1 photo(s) available in the Image Gallery

Plant Characteristics

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Shrub
Leaf Retention: Evergreen
Leaf Complexity: Simple
Fruit Type: Capsule
Size Notes: Up to about 6 feet tall.
Leaf: Yellow-Green

Bloom Information

Bloom Color: White
Bloom Time: Mar , Apr

Distribution

USA: CA , ID , MT , NV , OR , UT , WA , WY
Canada: AB , BC
Native Distribution: British Columbia and Alberta south to Sierra Nevada, Nevada, Utah, and Wyoming.
Native Habitat: Wet places in mountains.

Growing Conditions

Water Use: Medium
Light Requirement: Shade
CaCO3 Tolerance: Medium

Benefit

Use Food: Leaves steeped for tea by indigenous peoples.
Warning: Plants in the genus Ledum, particularly the seeds, can be toxic. Though the leaves of a few species of Ledum have traditionally been steeped for teas, only sparing use at dilute concentrations is recommended, to avoid exposure to the andromedotoxins known to exist in this genus.
Conspicuous Flowers: yes

From the National Organizations Directory

According to the species list provided by Affiliate Organizations, this plant is on display at the following locations:

Sibley Nature Center - Midland, TX

Bibliography

Bibref 12 - How to Attract Birds (1983) McKinley, M. D. ; K. Burke; J. Wood
Bibref 219 - Illustrated Field Key to the Flowering Plants of Monterey County & Ferns, Fern Allies, & Conifers (1997) Mathews, M.A.
Bibref 181 - Redwood Empire Wildflowers (1989) Young, D.K.

Search More Titles in Bibliography

Web Reference

Webref 38 - Flora of North America (2019) Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis, MO & Harvard University Herbaria, Cambridge, MA.
Webref 23 - Southwest Environmental Information Network (2009) SEINet - Arizona Chapter

Additional resources

USDA: Find Ledum glandulosum in USDA Plants
FNA: Find Ledum glandulosum in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Ledum glandulosum

Metadata

Record Modified: 0000-00-00
Research By: TWC Staff

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