Rhododendron groenlandicum (Labrador Tea)
| Also known as: | |
|---|---|
| Genus: | Rhododendron |
| Family: | Ericaceae (Heath) |
| Life cycle: | perennial woody |
| Origin: | native |
| Habitat: | part shade, sun; cedar/spruce bogs, sphagnum wetlands, lake and stream shores |
| Bloom season: | May - June |
| Plant height: | 1 to 3 feet |
| Wetland Indicator Status: | GP: FACW MW: OBL NCNE: OBL |
| MN county distribution (click map to enlarge): |  |
| National distribution (click map to enlarge): |  |
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Detailed Information
Flower: 
![[photo of flowers]](/udata/r9ndp23q/pd/rhododendron-groenlandicum-22.jpg)
Spidery rounded cluster of 10 to 40 flowers on slender stalks at the end of branching stems. Flowers are white, about 1/3 inch across with 5 oval petals and 5 to 10 long white stamens surrounding the small green round ovary in the center. The next season's bloom is formed in late summer and appears as a large scaly bud at the end of the evergreen terminals (see more photos below). The brown bud scales fall away from the floral base the next spring when the flowers bloom.
Leaves:
![[photo of leaves]](/udata/r9ndp23q/white/labrador-tea_0530_153833.jpg)
Leaves are evergreen into 2nd year, simple, alternate, narrow to broader and oblong, tapered or blunt at ends, 1 to 2¼ inches long, ¼ to 2/3 inch wide, on a short stalk. The upper surface is dark green, smooth to sparsely hairy, with a leathery texture; the underside is woolly white the first year becoming copper colored the next year. Leaf edges are smooth and rolled under. Stems are upright; new stems densely covered with coppery hairs that gray by second year and persist for number of years. The bark on old wood is gray.
Notes:
Of its three contemporary, and of similar habit, evergreen wetland shrubs—Chamaedaphne calyculata, Kalmia polifolia and Andromeda glaucophylla—you don't always have to slog into a bog to see this one. Labrador Tea is quite common throughout the northeastern third of Minnesota—I've seen it along many lakeshores right in forest service campgrounds or lakeside roads in the Arrowhead. It does do best in sphagnum bogs however, forming colonies via rooting stems or rhizomes in the sphagnum. Formerly known as Ledum groenlandicum, I, not being a trained taxonimist and not read the journals, have always questioned why it was not in the Rhododendron genus. Apparently it now is.Native Plant Nurseries, Restoration and Landscaping Services ↓
Map of native plant resources in the upper midwest
More photos
Labrador Tea plant
colony of Labrador Tea 
spring Labrador Tea with Bog Laurel and Buckbean 
more flowers 
coppery color in winter 
terminal bud, foliage greening up in spring
Labrador Tea plant
colony of Labrador Tea 
spring Labrador Tea with Bog Laurel and Buckbean 
more flowers 
coppery color in winter 
terminal bud, foliage greening up in spring Photos by K. Chayka and Peter M. Dziuk taken at several locations in central Aitkin county and Carlton county.
Comments
Have you seen this plant in Minnesota, or have any other comments about it?
on: 2012-06-05 13:30:53
Our woods are filled with this plant.
on: 2013-05-28 15:15:57
How do you make tea from this plant? It says that it helps with the stomach flu and other stomach and digestive problems
on: 2014-12-08 16:00:05
My sister and I make a tea from this plant. It has the best flavor when gathered in the spring, and the tea can either be prepared with fresh or dried leaves. It has a somewhat swampy taste, but paired with wild mint, it is wonderful. Keep in mind, I have found warnings against consumption when nursing or pregnant.
on: 2016-06-15 21:33:35
Found a small clump in a tamarack swamp just east of Horseleg Lake and Anderson County Park.
on: 2017-09-29 12:54:18
This site was helpful in ID'ing a plant for a friend - thank you! I had learned this as Ledum many years ago.
on: 2017-12-21 12:18:40
Was excited to find a small patch of this in our tamarack swamp today (Isanti County just west of Green Lake).
on: 2019-05-22 10:54:24
Take care with making tea from the leaves. It can have hallucinogenic properties for some people is to much is consumed.
on: 2021-06-07 11:24:27
Does anyone know where I can buy this Plant?
on: 2021-06-07 13:49:14
Donna, check where to buy native plants and seeds. If none of those vendors carries it one might know who does. On a side note, Oshkosh MN probably doesn't have much suitable habitat for this species; Oshkosh WI probably does.
on: 2021-07-08 17:22:24
Is there anyway information on how to pick/use all these plants in order for them to re grow properly? Thank you
on: 2021-07-08 19:15:51
Nena, I don't know of anyone with expertise in propagating Labrador tea. Try a web search.
on: 2022-04-19 19:25:01
Love this plant so much.
on: 2022-07-20 16:18:13
I was introduced to Labrador tea in Alaska, USA and Yukon, and NWT, Canada. Now I'm running low on what I got there and looking got Labrador tea in Lake Co. and Cook Co. MN - Finland Sate Forest and Superior National Forest, but I have not had much luck. Should I look harder or it's not there?
on: 2022-07-20 18:24:59
S. Chayka (no relation, I assume), we do not condone taking plants from the wild without the landowner's permission, even if that landowner happens to be a government agency. This species is commercially available (google is your friend) so you can grow your own and not disturb those in the wild.
on: 2023-05-27 09:04:17
I purchased this plant from Prairie Restoration in Princeton, MN. It is now in it's third growing season and flowering beautifully, putting out new growth. I recommend this source for Labrador Tea.