Description
Ledum –
There are 3 or 4 species of evergreen shrubs in this genus. They are widely distributed in bogs, marshes, and moist, often coniferous woodland in cool temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere and into subarctic territories. They are grown for their compact habit, their aromatic leaves (which are alternate, and may be linear, ovate, oval, or oblong), and their dense, terminal, umbel like corymbs of small, 5 petalled white flowers, with protruding stamens, borne in spring or early summer. Suitable for a cool position in a rock or heather garden.
Grow in humus rich, moist but well drained, acidic to neutral soil in shade to partial shade.
Prone to leaf gall, rust, spot anthracnose, and leaf spots.
L. glandulosum – Tappers Tea – This aromatic bushy, rounded shrub from Western North America grows 3′ feet tall and 4′ feet wide. From smooth shoots it carries egg to oval shaped leaves, to 2″ long, deeply veined and dark green above, white scaly beneath. In late spring and early summer it bears white flowers, to ½” across, in rounded, terminal corymbs, 2″ across.
Zones 7-9
