Hansen's Northwest Native Plant Database

Ledum glandulosum (Labrador or Trapper's Tea)

Kingdom Plantae – Plants

Subkingdom Tracheobionta – Vascular plants

Superdivision Spermatophyta – Seed plants

Division Magnoliophyta – Flowering plants

Class Magnoliopsida – Dicotyledons

Subclass Dilleniidae

Order Ericales

Family Ericaceae – Heath family

Genus Ledum L. – Labrador tea

Species Ledum glandulosum Nutt. – western Labrador tea

A delightful evergreen shrub, reminiscent of a Rhododendron. Indeed they are both members of the acid-loving heather family.

It is at home in bog lands with low nutrients from the Pacific Coast to the Rocky Mountains, in USDA zones 4-9.

Labrador Tea forms many branches and grows to 3.'

There is a characteristic rust-colored "fur" on the undersides of the 2 ½" long, drooping leaves.

The plant emits a lovely, spicy odor and rewards its keepers with clusters of decorative, white flowers in late summer.

As the name implies, Natives and early settlers made tea from the leaves but great care must be taken in identification as it has several toxic look-alikes.