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)
Twigs of Kalmia latifolia
Twigs of Kalmia latifolia (coming soon)
Leaves of Kalmia latifolia
Leaves of Kalmia latifolia (Copyright W. Cook)
Flowers of Kalmia latifolia
Flowers of Kalmia latifolia (Copyright W. Cook)
Fruits of Kalmia latifolia
Fruits of Kalmia latifolia (Copyright W. Cook)
N.C. distribution of Kalmia latifolia
N.C. distribution of Kalmia latifolia

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)