How to identify — This evergreen shrub is generally a foot tall, but can be shorter in exposed areas and taller in protected areas. The leaves are long and narrow, leathery, and are rolled under at the margins. The underside of the leaves are covered with a brown fuzz. The white flowers emerge from the tip of the twig and grow in a round cluster. Each flower has 5 petals with protruding stamens (male reproductive structures). The drooping fruits are green, becoming brown as they dry.
You might confuse this plant with sheep laurel (Kalmia angustifolia), bog laurel (Kalmia polifolia), or rhodora (Rhododendron canadense). All 4 species can be found growing together, but are easily distinguished by their leaves or flowers. None of these species have the characteristic fuzzy brown underside, rolled margins, or leathery surface of the Labrador tea leaf. The flowers of sheep laurel and bog laurel are pink, and rhodora are purple, and none form a distinct ball of white flowers, like Labrador tea.
Habitat/Distribution — Labrador tea prefers wet or boggy locations, but can be found in drier areas as well. It tends to be more abundant at lower elevations within the alpine zone. It can also be found in bogs below treeline. This species is found throughout the Northeast, and from New Jersey to the Pacific Northwest, and north to southern Canada and Alaska. Despite its name, this species does not occur in Labrador. However, another closely related species (Ledum palustre) with the same common name is found further north in boreal and polar regions throughout the northern hemisphere, including in Labrador.
Ecology — The fuzz on the underside of the leaves is believed to be an adaptation to retain moisture. The brown hairs comb moisture from ground fog, and act like a sponge to hold on to this water. Despite the fact that alpine areas receive heavy amounts of precipitation, the exposure to sun and high winds can create drought conditions for alpine plants. The leaves are dried and used as a tea, which reportedly doesn’t taste very good, but has many traditional medicinal uses including lung, stomach, and kidney ailments.
Environmental Change Issues — Labrador tea is not restricted to areas above treeline. Therefore, it is less likely than some of the other alpine plants to become regionally extirpated as a result of climate change.
