Western Bog Laurel

Kalmia microphylla

Western Bog Laurel is a small, lovely shrub that grows in wet places. It has pretty pink flowers that bloom in spring and is a favorite for bees and butterflies!

Habitat: Wetlands

Appearance

The Western Bog Laurel has striking bright pink to rose-purple, cup-shaped flowers clustered at the tips of its branches. Its small, shiny, evergreen leaves are narrow and often rolled under at the edges, helping it stand out against other bog plants.

KingdomPlantaePhylumTracheophytaClassMagnoliopsidaOrderEricalesFamilyEricaceaeGenusKalmia

Western Bog Laurel

Interesting facts

Even though it's pretty, tasting any part of this plant is a big no-no for animals and people!

Its bright pink flowers look like tiny umbrellas turned inside out!

Some people call it 'Lambkill' because grazing animals can get sick from eating it!

This tough plant can live for many years, even in freezing cold places high in the mountains!

Special abilities

Western Bog Laurel has toxic chemicals that help it protect its leaves from hungry animals, making them think twice before taking a bite!

Western Bog Laurel can grow in super wet, acidic bogs where most plants can't survive, thanks to its tough roots and adaptations!

Western Bog Laurel has unique flowers with tiny 'springs' that launch pollen onto visiting insects, ensuring its seeds are made!

Measurements & details

Height: 10-60 cm
Spread: 15-90 cm
Flower Size: 1-2 cm
Bloom Season: Late_spring_to_mid_summer
Edible: No
Toxicity: High
Lifecycle: Perennial
Pollination Method: Insect

Ecological connections

pollinates

Two-form Bumblebee

Bombus bifarius

collects pollen and nectar

pollinates

Mixed Bumblebee

Bombus mixtus

transfers pollen between flowers

symbiotic with

Magellanic Bogmoss

Sphagnum magellanicum

forms the unique bog habitat it needs

Traits

Bell-Shaped Flower

Bell-shaped flowers possess petals fused or arranged to form a cup-like or campanulate structure resembling a bell.

Deciduous

Deciduous plants periodically shed all their leaves, typically during autumn or dry seasons.

Flowering

Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle.

Shrub

A shrub is a woody plant smaller than a tree, typically with multiple stems branching from or near the ground.

Spring Blooming

Spring blooming plants produce their flowers during the spring season, often signifying the end of winter and the start of new growth.

Pollinator Magnet

Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms.

Wetland

This habitat trait identifies species found in wetlands, which are areas of land saturated with water, either permanently or seasonally, including marshes, swamps, and bogs.