Virginia Tech Dendrology

sheep laurel Ericaceae Kalmia angustifolia L. symbol: KAAN
Leaf: Whorled (but may be opposite), evergreen, thickened, elliptical, entire margins; 1 1/2 to 2 1/2 inches long; green to blue-green above, pale green below.
Flower: Pretty clusters of pink to purple (occasionally white) bell-shaped flowers each 3/8 inch across; appear from axils of last years leaves in spring.
Fruit: Small, 5-parted woody capsules; ripen in early fall; persistent through the winter and into spring.
Twig: Slender, green turning brown; buds small.
Bark: Brown, becoming finely scaly.
Form: Low growing, open crowned shrub that may reach 3 feet in height. Spreads by root suckering.
Looks like: mountain laurel - bog laurel - pink azalea

Additional Range Information: Kalmia angustifolia is native to North America. Range may be expanded by planting. Download the full-size PDF map.
External Links: USDAFS FEIS Silvics - USDA Plants Database
All material 2021 Virginia Tech Dept. of Forest Resources and Environmental Conservation; Photos and text by: John Seiler, Edward Jensen, Alex Niemiera, and John Peterson; Silvics reprinted from Ag Handbook 654; range map source information