Pollinator plant

Sheep laurel

Kalmia angustifolia

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Common names

24 names · 17 languages
EnglishYour language
+2 more namesShow fewer names
Other languages (16)
Dutch
  • Lepelboom
  • Smalle lepelboom[2][3]
French
  • kalmia à feuilles étroites[2][3]
Cherokee
  • ᏧᎫ ᏧᎾᏍᏗ[3]
Chinese (Simplified)
  • 狭叶山月桂[3]
  • 羊月桂[3]
Chinese (Traditional)
Czech
  • mamota úzkolistá[3]
Danish
  • smalbladet kalmia[3]
Finnish
  • kapealehtikalmia[3]
German
  • Schmalblättrige Lorbeerrose[2][3]
Japanese
  • ホソバアメリカシャクナゲ[3]
Norwegian
Polish
  • Kalmia wąskolistna[3]
Russian
  • Кальмия узколистная[3]
  • Овечий лавр[3]
Slovak
  • kalmia úzkolistá[3]
Swedish
  • smalbladig kalmia[3]
Ukrainian
  • Кальмія вузьколиста[3]
Sources & name notes (3)

Names recorded in our plant catalogue and botanical sources, grouped by language. Usage can vary by region.

Catalogue language labels are reviewed separately from botanical source records.

Numbered references identify names recorded by an external source. Other names are from our plant catalogue.

[1] Kalmia angustifolia — Plant Toolbox common names ↗

NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox; English common names in a United States horticultural reference.

Source records
  • Sheep Laurel — ul#common_names > li:nth-of-type(3); heading: Common Name(s):; Kalmia angustifolia.
  • Lambkill — ul#common_names > li:nth-of-type(1); heading: Common Name(s):; Kalmia angustifolia.
  • Northern Sheepkill — ul#common_names > li:nth-of-type(2); heading: Common Name(s):; Kalmia angustifolia.
  • Wicky — ul#common_names > li:nth-of-type(4); heading: Common Name(s):; Kalmia angustifolia.
[2] Kalmia angustifolia — iNaturalist taxon names ↗

Community-curated iNaturalist taxonomy. This is a common-name attestation, not an independent botanical determination.

Source records
  • sheep laurel — results[0].names[1]; taxon id 53041; Kalmia angustifolia.
  • Schmalblättrige Lorbeerrose — results[0].names[6]; taxon id 53041; Kalmia angustifolia.
  • Lambskill — results[0].names[4]; taxon id 53041; Kalmia angustifolia.
  • kalmia à feuilles étroites — results[0].names[7]; taxon id 53041; Kalmia angustifolia.
  • Smalle lepelboom — results[0].names[9]; taxon id 53041; Kalmia angustifolia.
[3] Kalmia angustifolia — iNaturalist taxon names ↗

Community-curated iNaturalist taxonomy; common-name attestation, not an independent botanical determination.

Source records
  • sheep laurel — results[23].names[1]; taxon id 53041; Kalmia angustifolia.
  • Schmalblättrige Lorbeerrose — results[23].names[6]; taxon id 53041; Kalmia angustifolia.
  • Lambskill — results[23].names[4]; taxon id 53041; Kalmia angustifolia.
  • kalmia à feuilles étroites — results[23].names[7]; taxon id 53041; Kalmia angustifolia.
  • Smalle lepelboom — results[23].names[9]; taxon id 53041; Kalmia angustifolia.
  • roselyng — results[23].names[3]; taxon id 53041; Kalmia angustifolia.
  • mamota úzkolistá — results[23].names[5]; taxon id 53041; Kalmia angustifolia.
  • ホソバアメリカシャクナゲ — results[23].names[8]; taxon id 53041; Kalmia angustifolia.
  • 羊月桂 — results[23].names[10]; taxon id 53041; Kalmia angustifolia.
  • 羊月桂 — results[23].names[11]; taxon id 53041; Kalmia angustifolia.
  • smalbladig kalmia — results[23].names[12]; taxon id 53041; Kalmia angustifolia.
  • Кальмия узколистная — results[23].names[14]; taxon id 53041; Kalmia angustifolia.
  • Овечий лавр — results[23].names[15]; taxon id 53041; Kalmia angustifolia.
  • smalbladet kalmia — results[23].names[16]; taxon id 53041; Kalmia angustifolia.
  • Kalmia wąskolistna — results[23].names[17]; taxon id 53041; Kalmia angustifolia.
  • ᏧᎫ ᏧᎾᏍᏗ — results[23].names[18]; taxon id 53041; Kalmia angustifolia.
  • kapealehtikalmia — results[23].names[19]; taxon id 53041; Kalmia angustifolia.
  • 狭叶山月桂 — results[23].names[20]; taxon id 53041; Kalmia angustifolia.
  • kalmia úzkolistá — results[23].names[21]; taxon id 53041; Kalmia angustifolia.
  • Кальмія вузьколиста — results[23].names[22]; taxon id 53041; Kalmia angustifolia.
Plant references

Source-backed information

Published observations for this plant. Each reference supports the information beside it.

Taxonomy
Kalmia angustifolia is an accepted species in Catalogue of Life.

Taxonomic treatment in the August 2026 release; the catalogue record name is preserved.

Sources [1]
Botanical family
Ericaceae

Family in the cited taxonomic treatment.

Sources [1]
Mature height
0.3–0.91 m

NC State Extension profile. Converted from the source range in feet and inches; mature size varies with growing conditions.

Sources [2]
Mature spread
1.22–1.83 m

NC State Extension profile. Converted from the source range in feet and inches; mature size varies with growing conditions.

Sources [2]
Plant habit
Erect; Rounded; Spreading

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Growth rate
Slow

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Foliage
Broadleaf Evergreen

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Light
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Moisture and drainage
Moist; Occasional Flooding; Occasionally Dry; Occasionally Wet

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Soil texture
High Organic Matter

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Soil pH
Acid (<6.0); Neutral (6.0-8.0)

NC State Extension profile. These source categories do not certify the catalogue’s numeric pH interval.

Sources [2]
Flowering season
Spring; Summer

NC State Extension profile. Seasons reflect the source region and do not verify the catalogue’s exact flowering months.

Sources [2]
Reported wildlife attraction
Listed as attracting: butterflies, pollinators.

NC State Extension profile. Broad wildlife categories; this does not establish flower visits by a named bee species or quantify nectar and pollen.

Sources [2]
Native range
E. Canada to E. U.S.A.

Explicit native locality records in Kew WCVP v16; introduced and doubtful distributions excluded. Continent conversion follows the documented geographic mapping.

Sources [3]
Catalogue ratings

Who this plant supports

Honey bees

Low suitability
Nectar value Low
Pollen value Unknown
Plant profile

About this plant

Sheep laurel (Kalmia angustifolia) is a shrub. It flowers from June to July.

Sources and references

References for the information marked with source numbers on this page.

Sources checked
  1. Catalogue of Life Kalmia angustifolia — Catalogue of Life COL26.8

    COL26.8 (2026-08-20). Contributing checklist: Synonymic Checklists of the Vascular Plants of the World. This is taxonomic evidence, not an independent ecological study.

    Supports: TaxonomyBotanical family
    Relevant sections
    • Taxonomy: NameUsage.tsv line 2262702; ID 6NK44; rank species; status accepted
    • Botanical family: NameUsage.tsv line 2262702; ID 6NK44; rank species; status accepted

    Source checked on .

    Source data licence: CC BY 4.0.

  2. NC State Extension Kalmia angustifolia — Plant Toolbox

    NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox. Growing conditions and seasons reflect its United States horticultural context.

    Supports: Mature heightMature spreadPlant habitGrowth rateFoliageLightMoisture and drainageSoil textureSoil pHFlowering seasonReported wildlife attraction
    Relevant sections
    • Mature height: Dimensions / Height
    • Mature spread: Dimensions / Width
    • Plant habit: Habit/Form
    • Growth rate: Growth Rate
    • Foliage: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics
    • Light: Light
    • Moisture and drainage: Soil Drainage
    • Soil texture: Soil Texture
    • Soil pH: Soil pH
    • Flowering season: Flower Bloom Time
    • Reported wildlife attraction: Attracts

    Source checked on .

  3. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew Kalmia angustifolia — Kew WCVP native distribution

    Native distribution and taxonomic treatment from the official WCVP v16 export (4 June 2026). The link opens the corresponding POWO taxon. Source rows are retained in the native-range audit archive.

    Supports: Native range
    Relevant sections
    • Native range: WCVP v16; wcvp_names.csv lines 40921; wcvp_distribution.csv native locality lines 750293, 750294, 750295, 750296, 750297, 750298, 750299, 750300, 750301, 750302, 750303, 750304, 750305, 750306, 750307, 750308, 750309, 750310, 750311, 750312, 750313, 750314, 750315, 750316, 750317

    Source checked on .

    Source data licence: CC BY 3.0.