Plant Profile: Kalmia angustifolia

Sheep Laurel is a perennial flowering shrub belonging to the heath family, indigenous to North America, ranging from Canada down to Virginia, where it thrives in damp bogs and swamps. This shrub can reach heights of up to 3 feet and spread as wide as 6 feet, creating a dense ground cover. During the summer, it produces clusters of pink flowers that bloom beneath the foliage. However, it poses a risk to grazing animals due to its toxic properties.

When cultivated, Sheep Laurel thrives in partial sunlight and prefers moist, acidic soils. It is advisable to avoid planting it in exposed, windy locations. This plant is suitable for naturalized landscapes, as well as for use in foundation plantings or woodland gardens. It may also adapt well to mountainous regions in the southern states. The variety known as Carolina is specifically found in the coastal and mountainous areas of North Carolina.