Ericaceae
Western labrador-tea
Rhododendron columbianum
Also known as Ledum glandulosum var. californicum, Ledum columbianum, Ledum glandulosum, Glandular Labrador tea
Flowering Plants · Native Plants · Trees & Shrubs · Native Shrub · Ericaceae · Bog Plant · Acidic Soil · Rhododendron · Wildflower · Mountain Plant · Pacific Northwest · Medicinal · Wildlife Garden
Western Labrador-tea thrives in cool, moist, acidic soils with partial shade, mimicking its native boggy and montane habitats. Keep soil consistently moist and avoid dry or alkaline conditions, which can cause rapid decline. This slow-growing shrub is best suited to Pacific Northwest or mountain garden settings rather than indoor or warm-climate growing.
Growing conditions
The details behind the basics
- Daily light
- 4 hours
- Watering
- Water deeply to keep soil consistently moist but not waterlogged · Every 5-7 days
- Maintenance
- High
- Soil
- sandy loam
- Soil pH
- 4.6–7
- Temperature
- -20°F to 95°F
- Cycle
- Perennial
- Propagation
- Seed, Division, Cutting
Hardiness
USDA 3a-9b
Form & growth
Mature size and habit
- Mature height
- 2 ft – 8 ft
- Spread
- 7 ft
- Spacing
- 36 in apart
- Growth rate
- Slow
- Root depth
- Shallow
- Flowers
- Yes
- Foliage
- Medium
Ecology & origin
Where it belongs and what it brings
- Native to
- Alberta, British Columbia, California, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, Washington, Wyoming
- Attracts
- Bees, Butterflies, Birds
Sources: trefle, usda
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