Kalmia
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 Kalmia angustifolia
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Kalmia is a genus of about 7 species of evergreen shrubs from 0.2-5 m tall, in the family Ericaceae. They are native to North America (mainly in the eastern half of the continent) and Cuba. They grow in acidic soils, with different species in wet acid bog habitats (K. angustifolia, K. polifolia) and dry, sandy soils (K. ericoides, K. latifolia).
The leaves are 2-12 cm long, simple lanceolate, and arranged spirally on the stems. The flowers are white, pink or purple, in corymbs of 10-50, reminiscent of Rhododendron flowers but flatter, with a star-like calyx of five conjoined petals; each flower is 1-3 cm diameter. The fruit is a five-lobed capsule, which splits to release the numerous small seeds.
The foliage is toxic if eaten, with sheep being particularly prone to poisoning, hence the name "lambkill" used for some of the species.
Kalmias are popular garden shrubs, grown for their decorative flowers. They should not be planted where they are accessible to livestock due to the toxicity.
Kalmia species are used as food plants by the larvae of some lepidopteran species including Coleophora kalmiella which feeds exclusively on Kalmia.
Kalmia is named after the Finnish botanist Pehr Kalm, who collected it in eastern North America.
Species:
- Kalmia angustifolia L. - Sheep-laurel, Lambkill
- Kalmia carolina Small - Carolina Mountain-laurel
- Kalmia cuneata Michx. - Whitewicky
- Kalmia ericoides Wright - Cuban Kalmia
- Kalmia hirsuta Walt. - Hairy Mountain-laurel
- Kalmia latifolia L. - Mountain-laurel, Lambkill
- Kalmia polifolia Wangenh. - Bog Kalmia, Bog-laurel
- Kalmia polifolia var. microphylla (Hook.) Rehder - Alpine Bog-laurel, Alpine Mountain-laurel
The related Kalmiopsis (Kalmiopsis leachiana) is a rare shrub native to the Siskiyou Mountains of southwest Oregon.
