# 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! - **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 2/5 · Low - **Snaps:** 5 - **Habitat:** Wetlands - **Also known as:** Kalmia polifolia, Swamp Laurel ![Western Bog Laurel](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Kalmia_microphylla_0601.JPG&width=800) Photo: Walter Siegmund (talk), CC BY-SA 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Kalmia_microphylla_0601.JPG) ## 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. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Magnoliopsida - **Order:** Ericales - **Family:** Ericaceae - **Genus:** Kalmia ## 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 - **Toxic Shield:** Western Bog Laurel has toxic chemicals that help it protect its leaves from hungry animals, making them think twice before taking a bite! - **Bog Survivor:** Western Bog Laurel can grow in super wet, acidic bogs where most plants can't survive, thanks to its tough roots and adaptations! - **Pollen Flinger:** 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](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/bell-shaped-flower): Bell-shaped flowers possess petals fused or arranged to form a cup-like or campanulate structure resembling a bell. - [Deciduous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/deciduous): Deciduous plants periodically shed all their leaves, typically during autumn or dry seasons. - [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. - [Spring Blooming](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/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](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator-magnet): Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms. - [Wetland](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/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. ## Collections - [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants) ## Safety **Danger:** 2/5 · Low Do not eat any part of this plant, as it may not be safe. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Western Bog Laurel? 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 Western Bog Laurel? 10-60 cm ### How wide does Western Bog Laurel spread? 15-90 cm ### How big are the flowers on Western Bog Laurel? 1-2 cm ### When does Western Bog Laurel bloom? Late_spring_to_mid_summer ### Is Western Bog Laurel edible? No ### Is Western Bog Laurel toxic? High ### What is Western Bog Laurel's lifecycle? Perennial ## Where to spot - [E.C. Manning Provincial Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/e-c-manning-provincial-park) — British Columbia, CA · State Park - [Grandma Lake Wetlands State Natural Area](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/grandma-lake-wetlands-state-natural-area) — Wisconsin, US · State Park - [Great Sierra Mine Historic Site](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/great-sierra-mine-historic-site) — California, US · Historic Site - [Guard Island Light](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/guard-island-light) — US · Historic District - [Old Administrative Area Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/old-administrative-area-historic-district) — Wyoming, US · Historic District - [Peter Roose Homestead](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/peter-roose-homestead) — Washington, US · Historic Site [View all places to see Western Bog Laurel](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/western-bog-laurel) ## 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: [Western Bog Laurel: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-bog-laurel)