Sheep Laurel is a small, compact, tufted, evergreen, perennial shrub in the heath family, native to the southeastern United States and typically found in moist pine lands, swamps, and occasionally rocky areas at a high elevation. This plant can also be found in North Carolina where it is common in the coastal plain, but rare in the mountains and the piedmont. Leaves are simple, opposite or in whorls of 3. Flowers are pinkish, blossom from spring into summer in short lateral clusters, and are each saucer-shaped with 5 shallow lobes, the 10 anthers at first stuck in small pockets;. Fruit is a capsule. Sheep Laurel prefers moist to wet sandy soil in full sun, but tolerates partial shade. It is a relatively small shrub, reaching a mature height of 6 feet with a 3 foot spread. It spreads by sucker growths at the base and plants can be propagated by seed or by pulling old plants apart in spring. In the wild, it can appear in extensive colonies. The plant can be pruned, but keep in mind that next year's blossoms and fruit will appear on old growth. Use in naturalized areas of native and woodland gardens to attract various pollinators. Fire Risk: This plant has a high flammability rating and should not be planted within the defensible space of your home. Select plants with a low flammability rating for the sites nearest your home. Diseases, Insect Pests, and Other Plant Problems: No significant problems More information on Kalmia angustifolia .
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day) | Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Soil texture
Sand
Soil pH
Acid (<6.0)
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Moist | Occasionally Wet
Available space
12 inches-3 feet
NC region
Coastal; Mountains
Mature size
Height: 1 ft. 0 in. - 3 ft. 0 in. | Width: 3 ft. 0 in. - 6 ft. 0 in.
Canopy layer
3 - Shrub (3-15 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Rounded; Spreading
Texture
Medium
Foliage
Broadleaf Evergreen
Leaf color
Blue; Green
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf arrangement
Opposite; Whorled
Leaf size
1-3 inches long
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
Opposite to whorled simple leaves; blue-green color; 1-2.5 in. long.
Flower color
Pink; Purple/Lavender; Red/Burgundy
Flower value
Showy
Flower shape
Saucer
Flower size
< 1 inch
Flower detail
Produces 1/2 inch rose-pink to purplish crimson flowers in spring and early summer (April - May). Grows in short lateral clusters, each saucer-shaped with 5 shallow lobes, the 10 anthers at first stuck in small pockets.
Bloom time
Spring; Summer
Fruit type
Capsule
Fruit detail
Fruits are available between September and October.
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Native
Origin
Southeastern United States
Distribution
Virginia south to Georgia and west to Tennessee
Attracts
Butterflies; Hummingbirds; Pollinators; Songbirds
Food & Medicine
Harvest time
Fall
Fruit type
Capsule
Landscape Use
Landscape location
Naturalized Area; Woodland
Landscape theme
Native Garden
Garden tags
#pink flowers #poisonous #full sun tolerant #evergreen #fire high flammability #shrub #NC native #food source nectar #food source pollen #Piedmont Mountains FAC #Audubon #food source hard mast fruit #NC Native Pollinator Plant
HIGHLY TOXIC, MAY BE FATAL IF EATEN! Salivation, watering of eyes and nose, slow pulse, nausea, vomiting, sweating, abdominal pain, headache, tingling of skin, lack of coordination, convulsions, and paralysis.