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. palustre f. decumbens – Marsh Tea – Crystal Tea – Marsh Ledum – Wild Rosemary – This bushy, erect to spreading, usually rounded shrub grows 8″ inches tall and 36″ wide. From rust colored shoots it carries narrowly linear leaves, 3/4″ long, dark green above, rust hairy beneath, with recurved edges. In late spring and early summer it bears white flowers, to ½” across, in rounded, terminal corymbs, 2″ across, followed by capsular fruit..
Zones 2-5
