Bog Labrador Tea
Rhododendron groenlandicum
Also listed as Ledum groenlandicum, Ledum canadense
Also known as Labrador Tea, Greenland Labrador Tea, Common Labrador Tea
Climate Match for your location
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A low evergreen shrub with small leathery leaves and delicate pink or white flowers, native to northern bog habitats. It prefers cool, consistently moist conditions and acidic soil.
Why grow it
Bog Labrador Tea offers year-round evergreen structure and early-season flowers in wetland or acidic garden settings where many ornamentals struggle. Compared to other bog shrubs like leatherleaf or cranberry, it provides denser foliage and more prominent blooms while requiring less aggressive management. It tolerates poor drainage and nutrient-poor soils better than most landscape alternatives, making it useful for rain gardens or low-lying sites that would challenge conventional plantings.
Watch out for
This species performs poorly in neutral or alkaline soils and in warm climates with inconsistent moisture, so site selection is critical to success. Its shallow root system benefits from consistent moisture but not waterlogging in winter, requiring careful attention to drainage timing rather than simply saturating the bed year-round.
Overview
- Form
- Growth Rate
- Size
- Dormancy
- Family
- Ericaceae
Native to the United States
Native Range
Northern North America, Greenland
Native to: Alaska, Connecticut, Idaho, Massachusetts, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New York, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin
Seasonality
Bloom Season
Harvest Season
Edible Parts
Season of Interest
Shrub
Woody multi-stem plants at eye level.
Succession Role
Tolerances & Soil
Establishment & Care
- Establishment
- Maintenance
- Propagation
A low evergreen shrub with small leathery leaves and delicate pink or white flowers, native to northern bog habitats. It prefers cool, consistently moist conditions and acidic soil.
Climate Match for your location
See how well Bog Labrador Tea grows in your area.
Enter your ZIP code and we'll show you how this plant fits your local climate.
Why grow it
Bog Labrador Tea offers year-round evergreen structure and early-season flowers in wetland or acidic garden settings where many ornamentals struggle. Compared to other bog shrubs like leatherleaf or cranberry, it provides denser foliage and more prominent blooms while requiring less aggressive management. It tolerates poor drainage and nutrient-poor soils better than most landscape alternatives, making it useful for rain gardens or low-lying sites that would challenge conventional plantings.
Watch out for
This species performs poorly in neutral or alkaline soils and in warm climates with inconsistent moisture, so site selection is critical to success. Its shallow root system benefits from consistent moisture but not waterlogging in winter, requiring careful attention to drainage timing rather than simply saturating the bed year-round.
Overview
- Form
- Growth Rate
- Size
- Dormancy
- Family
- Ericaceae
Native to the United States
Native Range
Northern North America, Greenland
Native to: Alaska, Connecticut, Idaho, Massachusetts, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New York, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin
Seasonality
Bloom Season
Harvest Season
Edible Parts
Season of Interest
Shrub
Woody multi-stem plants at eye level.
Succession Role
Tolerances & Soil
Establishment & Care
- Establishment
- Maintenance
- Propagation
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