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Bog Laurel Wikimedia Commons
Ericaceae

Bog Laurel

Kalmia polifolia

Perseverance in harsh conditions.

Family
Ericaceae
Genus
Kalmia
Native to
North America
Bloom season
Spring, Summer
Type
evergreen shrub
Height
0.5-2 ft
Sunlight
full sun to part shade
Soil
acidic, boggy, moist peat
Water
high
Hardiness
2-6
Lifespan
perennial

Did you know

  • Bog laurel thrives in sphagnum bogs where few other shrubs can survive.
  • All parts of the plant are toxic to livestock and humans due to grayanotoxins.
  • Its pollen is launched by spring-loaded stamens that catapult when touched by pollinators.
  • Indigenous peoples of North America used the leaves medicinally in very small doses.
  • It can survive temperatures well below -40 degrees Fahrenheit in its native range.

Color meanings

0

resilience

1

endurance

Uses

  • ornamental wetland gardening
  • native plant restoration