Species › Plants › Sheep Laurel

Sheep Laurel

Kalmia angustifolia

CommonPlant
Illustration of Sheep Laurel (Kalmia angustifolia)
Safety note: All parts are toxic to livestock and humans.

Sheep Laurel, or lambkill, is a low native shrub of bogs and acidic upland forests across northeastern North America. It produces clusters of small, vivid pink to magenta flowers in June. Dense thickets provide cover for ruffed grouse, snowshoe hares, and other wildlife. As with mountain laurel, all parts are toxic, and livestock are occasionally killed by grazing on it.

Habitat
Bogs, acidic upland forests, and rocky barrens in northeastern North America
Diet
Dense cover for grouse and hares; flowers provide nectar for native bees
How common
Common

Best time to see a Sheep Laurel

The best time to see a Sheep Laurel is May–July, when about 62% of U.S. sightings happen, based on 15,349 research-grade iNaturalist observations.

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