Practical
Plants

Kalmia angustifolia

Sheep Laurel

a perennial woody evergreen member of the Kalmia genus in the family Ericaceae.

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Taxonomy and growth

Family
Ericaceae
Genus
Kalmia
Life cycle
perennial
Foliage
evergreen
Woodiness
woody
Height
1.5 m
Spread
1.5 m
Fertility
Bees
Flower type
hermaphrodite
Pollinators
Bees

Uses

Toxicity

Toxicity warning. The historical record reports a hazard for this plant. Do not use it to decide which parts are safe to eat or use medicinally.

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

The foliage is poisonous to animals[6][12][13]. The whole plant is highly toxic[7].

Medicinal uses

Historical medicinal uses. These records describe reported uses. They do not establish safety or effectiveness. Ask a qualified health professional before using any plant medicinally.

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Sheep laurel is a very poisonous narcotic plant the leaves of which were at one time used by some native North American Indian tribes in order to commit suicide[10]. It is little, if at all, used in modern herbalism. The leaves are usually used externally as a poultice and wash in herbal medicine and are a good remedy for many skin diseases, sprains and inflammation[10][9]. They can also be applied as a poultice to the head to treat headaches[9]. The singed, crushed leaves can be used as a snuff in the treatment of colds[9]. Used internally, the leaves are analgesic, astringent and sedative and have a splendid effect in the treatment of active haemorrhages, headaches, diarrhoea and flux[10][6][11][9]. This species is said to be the best for medicinal use in the genus[10]. The plant should be used with great caution however, see the notes above on toxicity.

Product or use
Analgesic
Product or use
Astringent
Product or use
Narcotic
Product or use
Poultice
Product or use
Sedative

Environment

Range
Eastern N. America - Newfoundland to Hudson Bay, south to Georgia and Michigan. Nat in Britain.
Habitat
Acidic bogs and swamps[5].
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
light shade
Water
moderate
Hardiness
Zone 2+
Soil textures
sandy, loamy, clay
Soil pH
very acid, acid
Drainage
well drained
Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
No
Drought
intolerant

Propagation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Seed - surface sow in late winter in a cool greenhouse in light shade[14][2]. Prick out the young seedlings into individual pots as soon as they are large enough to handle. The seedlings are rather sensitive to damping off, so water them with care, keep them well-ventilated and perhaps apply a fungicide such as garlic as a preventative. Grow the young plants on in light shade and overwinter them in the greenhouse for their first winter[14]. Plant them out into their permanent positions in early summer. The seed is dust-like and remains viable for many years[2]. Cuttings of half-ripe wood, August in a frame. Very poor results unless the cuttings are taken from very young plants[1][14]. Layering in August/September. Takes 18 months[14]. The plants can also be dug up and replanted about 30cm deeper in the soil to cover up some of the branches. The plant can then be dug up about 12 months later when the branches will have formed roots and can be separated to make new plants[5].

Cultivation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Requires an acid humus-rich soil, succeeding in part shade[3] or in full sun in cooler areas. Prefers almost full sun[1]. Dislikes dry soils[3], requiring cool, permanently moist conditions at the roots[6]. Succeeds in open woodland or along the woodland edge[5]. Plants are very cold-hardy, tolerating temperatures down to about -30°c[4]. A very ornamental and variable plant[1], there are many named varieties[5]. The flowers are produced at the end of the previous years growth[1]. Plants spread slowly by means of suckers[1]. Pruning is not normally necessary, though if older plants become bare at the centre they can be cut back hard and will regrow from the base[5].

References

  1. Bean. W. Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Vol 1 - 4 and Supplement. Murray 1981-00-00

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5

  2. Dirr. M. A. and Heuser. M. W. The Reference Manual of Woody Plant Propagation. Athens Ga. Varsity Press 1987-00-00 ISBN 0942375009

    ↩1↩2

  3. Thomas. G. S. Ornamental Shrubs, Climbers and Bamboos. Murray 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-7195-5043-2

    ↩1↩2

  4. Phillips. R. & Rix. M. Shrubs. Pan Books 1989-00-00 ISBN 0-330-30258-2

    ↩

  5. Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5

  6. Lust. J. The Herb Book. Bantam books 1983-00-00 ISBN 0-553-23827-2

    ↩1↩2↩3

  7. Foster. S. & Duke. J. A. A Field Guide to Medicinal Plants. Eastern and Central N. America. Houghton Mifflin Co. 1990-00-00 ISBN 0395467225

    ↩

  8. Britton. N. L. Brown. A. An Illustrated Flora of the Northern United States and Canada Dover Publications. New York. 1970-00-00 ISBN 0-486-22642-5

  9. Moerman. D. Native American Ethnobotany Timber Press. Oregon. 1998-00-00 ISBN 0-88192-453-9

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

  10. Grieve. A Modern Herbal. Penguin 1984-00-00 ISBN 0-14-046-440-9

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

  11. Usher. G. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. Constable 1974-00-00 ISBN 0094579202

    ↩

  12. Frohne. D. and Pf�nder. J. A Colour Atlas of Poisonous Plants. Wolfe 1984-00-00 ISBN 0723408394

    ↩

  13. Cooper. M. and Johnson. A. Poisonous Plants in Britain and their Effects on Animals and Man. HMSO 1984-00-00 ISBN 0112425291

    ↩

  14. Sheat. W. G. Propagation of Trees, Shrubs and Conifers. MacMillan and Co 1948-00-00

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

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