Marsh Labrador Tea

Rhododendron tomentosum

Marsh Labrador Tea

Taxonomy

Division:
Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
Family:
Ericaceae
Genus:
Rhododendron
Species:
Rhododendron tomentosum

Growth Characteristics

Life Cycle:
Perennial
Growth Habit:
Shrub
Height:
1-2 ft
Light Requirements:
Full Sun
Drought Tolerance:
High
Bloom Months:
jun, jul, aug
Bloom Colors:
White
Evergreen Shrub:
Yes
Landscaping Shrub:
Yes

Native Range

United States: Alaska, Canada: Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, Northwest Territories, Nunavut, Ontario, Quebec, Saskatchewan, Yukon

Host Plant for Caterpillars

Holly Blue (Celastrina argiolus)

Soil Requirements

Soil Type:
peaty, acidic, nutrient-poor soil
pH:
3.5 - 5.5 (strongly acidic to acidic)
Drainage:
tolerates poor drainage
Moisture:
consistently moist
Notes:
Common in bogs and wetlands; prefers cold climates.

Germination Information

Pre-treatment: Seeds are placed in cold moist stratification for 30 days.

Establishment: L. palustre is found in bogs, peaty wet meadows and tundra in montane and alpine zones. It is a circumpolar species found from Alaska east to Labrador and south to extreme northern British Columbia.

Source: npn.rngr.net