May be fatal if eaten in large quantities. Causes salivation, watering of eyes and nose, nausea, vomiting, convulsions, paralysis, diarrhea, and cardiac failure.
Flowering evergreen shrub native to North America.
Grows 1-3 feet high and 4-6 feet wide
Grows in very moist, acidic soil and requires full sun or partial shade.
Broadleaf evergreen leaves and small but vibrant colored flowers blooming in the late spring.
High value to pollinators.
FAC Wetland Status (Facultative Wetland)
Hardiness Zones 5-8
Sentimental and Symbolic Value
Also known by many variations of names like "sheep-kill" and "calf-kill", these folk etymologies point to the way this plant wreaked havoc on livestock farmers in the northeast.
It is a very poisonous narcotic that was once used by some Native American tribes to commit suicide.
Laurel wreaths are generally made wtih true laurels like the bay laurel (Laurus nobilis) or cherry laurels (Prunus laurocerasus) rather than Kalmia angostifolia, but it is a symbol of triumph and social statue, as well as a common motif in architecture, heraldry and furniture.
Specimen photographed found at Lost Lake, Groton, Massachusetts. Part of the Shoreline Plants assignment (10/20/2021)
Plant History and Etymology
Kalmia is named after Pehr Kalm (1716-1779), a Finnish explorer and botanist who travelled extensively in North America and was a student of Karl Linneaus. Angostifolia is Latin for "narrow-leaved". It is a medium successional plant usually found in the drier, older portion of wetlands and bogs.
Design Considerations
This plant has many attractive deep red, purple and pink flowers, usually bell-shaped, scattered along the stem in clusters. The woody portion is dark brown and smooth, and the blueish-green, glossy leaves are evergreen, providing year-round visual interests. It makes a good addition for any pollinator-focused planters, but it is highly poisonous to humans and most animals so caution must be taken.
Sources
“Kalmia Angustifolia.” 2018. Fs.fed.us. 2018. https://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/plants/shrub/kalang/all.html.
“Kalmia Angustifolia (Sheep American-Laurel, Sheep-Laurel): Go Botany.” 2021. Nativeplanttrust.org. 2021. https://gobotany.nativeplanttrust.org/species/kalmia/angustifolia/.
“USDA Plants Database.” 2021. Usda.gov. 2021. https://plants.sc.egov.usda.gov/home/plantProfile?symbol=KAAN.
Wreath, Laurel. 2021. “Laurel Wreath.” Ancient Symbols. 2021. https://www.ancient-symbols.com/symbols-directory/laurel-wreath.html.