T r e e s  o f  N o r t h  C a r o l i n a

Kalmia L. (Ericaceae)

A genus of nine to eleven species of shrubs or small trees; North America and Cuba, except the circumboreal K. procumbens (formerly Loiseleuria).

One native species reaches the size of a small tree in North Carolina (although more usually found as a shrub): Kalmia latifolia (Mountain laurel).

Bark of Kalmia latifolia
Bark of Kalmia latifolia (Copyright W. Cook)
expand/contract button Twigs of Kalmia latifolia
Twigs of Kalmia latifolia (coming soon)
expand/contract button Leaves of Kalmia latifolia
Leaves of Kalmia latifolia (Copyright W. Cook)
expand/contract button Flowers of Kalmia latifolia
Flowers of Kalmia latifolia (Copyright W. Cook)
expand/contract button Fruits of Kalmia latifolia
Fruits of Kalmia latifolia (Copyright W. Cook)
expand/contract button N.C. distribution of Kalmia latifolia
N.C. distribution of Kalmia latifolia
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Kalmia latifolia (Mountain laurel)
(Common; acidic forests, bluffs, bogs, along sandhill steams, and in a wide range of other habitats, nearly ubiquitous in the Mt, up to at least 1600m, more restricted in habitat in the lower Pd and CP; Mt, Pd, CP; Fl: Apr-July, Fr: Sep-Oct)