Glandular Labrador-tea, Trapper's tea
Ledum glandulosum

Family: Ericaceae

What it is like

An evergreen rounded shrub. It grows 1-1.5 m high. The small branches are felted and have small glands. The leaves are oval or egg shaped. They have prominent veins. The leaves are dark green on the upper surface and scaly and with a whitish bloom underneath. The flowers are white and in clusters at the ends of branches.

There are 3 or 4 Ledum species. They grow in wet moorland in cool northern temperate regions.

Where it is found

It is a temperate plant. It grows in open woods in the Rocky Mountains. It is usually above 2,000 above sea level. It suits hardiness zones 2-8.

Countries/locations it is found in

Canada, North America, USA

How it is used for food

The fresh or dried leaves can be used for tea. The fresh leaves can be chewed.

Edible parts

Leaves - tea, caution

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Synonyms

Ledum californicum Kellogg; Ledum glandulosum var. californicum (Kellogg) C.L. Hitchc.; Ledum glandulosum var. glandulosum; Ledum glandulosum subsp. glandulosum; Ledum groenlandicum subsp. glandulosum (Nutt.) Á. Löve & D. Löve; Rhododendron neoglandulosum Harmaja;