# Mountain Labrador Tea (*Rhododendron neoglandulosum*) Mountain Labrador Tea is a special plant that grows in cool, wet places. Its leaves can be used to make a tasty tea that some people enjoy. This plant has beautiful flowers that attract butterflies and bees! - **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Habitat:** Mountain regions ![Mountain Labrador Tea](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Ledum_glandulosum_7490.JPG&width=800) Photo: Walter Siegmund (talk), CC BY-SA 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Ledum_glandulosum_7490.JPG) ## Appearance The Mountain Labrador Tea is a medium-sized, evergreen shrub with distinctive leathery leaves, dark green on top and covered in rusty-brown fuzz underneath. It produces clusters of small, bell-shaped flowers that are typically white or cream-colored, sometimes with a pinkish tint. Its unique two-toned leaves make it easily recognizable. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Magnoliopsida - **Order:** Ericales - **Family:** Ericaceae - **Genus:** Rhododendron ## Interesting facts - Wow! Indigenous peoples traditionally brew its dried leaves for tea! - Wow! It's related to the big, colorful rhododendron flowers you see in gardens! - Wow! Its crushed leaves release a spicy, aromatic scent! - Wow! This tough plant thrives high up in cold mountain areas! ## Special abilities - **Fuzzy Undersides:** Mountain Labrador Tea has dense, rusty hairs on the underside of its leaves that help trap moisture and protect it from harsh winds and cold. - **Evergreen Armor:** Mountain Labrador Tea keeps its tough, leathery leaves all winter, helping it survive freezing temperatures and photosynthesize when possible. - **Chemical Shield:** Mountain Labrador Tea produces special chemicals that make its leaves taste bad to most animals, helping it defend against being eaten. ## Measurements & details - **Height:** 50-200 cm - **Spread:** 50-150 cm - **Flower Size:** 1-2 cm - **Bloom Season:** Late_spring_to_mid_summer - **Edible:** No - **Toxicity:** Moderate - **Lifecycle:** Perennial - **Pollination Method:** Insect ## Ecological connections - **Pollinates:** Two-form Bumble Bee (*Bombus bifarius*) — Visits flowers for nectar and pollen. - **Eaten by:** [Mule Deer](https://www.snappit.app/explore/mule-deer) (*Odocoileus hemionus*) — May browse leaves, especially when other food is scarce. - **Eaten by:** [Elk](https://www.snappit.app/explore/elk) (*Cervus canadensis*) — Elk might occasionally browse its foliage. - **Shelter:** American Black Bear (*Ursus americanus*) — Bears might use dense shrubs for cover. ## Traits - [Flowering](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/flowering): Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle. - [Shrub](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/shrub): A shrub is a woody plant smaller than a tree, typically with multiple stems branching from or near the ground. - [Evergreen](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/evergreen): Evergreen plants retain their foliage throughout the year, never shedding all their leaves at once. - [Fragrant Flower](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/fragrant-flower): Fragrant flowers emit a pleasant aroma, often to attract pollinators or for defense. - [Medicinal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/medicinal): Medicinal plants possess chemical compounds that can be used for therapeutic purposes to treat illnesses or maintain health. - [Edible](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/edible): Edible plants are those parts of a plant that are considered safe for human consumption. - [Pollinator Magnet](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator-magnet): Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms. - [Mountain](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/mountain): This habitat trait identifies species found in mountainous regions, characterized by high elevation, steep slopes, and varying climate zones. - [Pollinator](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator): Describes organisms that transfer pollen, enabling the fertilization and reproduction of plants. ## Collections - [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Always ask an adult before tasting any plant or flower. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Mountain Labrador Tea? Start with the whole plant, then compare leaf arrangement, leaf edges, stems and any flowers or fruit. Opposite leaves grow in pairs; alternate leaves come one at a time along the stem. These details tell you far more together than a single green leaf does. Plant Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How tall is Mountain Labrador Tea? 50-200 cm ### How wide does Mountain Labrador Tea spread? 50-150 cm ### How big are the flowers on Mountain Labrador Tea? 1-2 cm ### When does Mountain Labrador Tea bloom? Late_spring_to_mid_summer ### Is Mountain Labrador Tea edible? No ### Is Mountain Labrador Tea toxic? Moderate ### What is Mountain Labrador Tea's lifecycle? Perennial ## Where to spot - [Cathedral Provincial Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/cathedral-provincial-park) — British Columbia, CA · State Park ## More Plants - [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*) - [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*) - [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*) - [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*) --- Source: [Mountain Labrador Tea: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/mountain-labrador-tea)