
Flower profile
Western bog laurel
Kalmia microphylla
Western bog laurel is a flowering plant that USDA PLANTS lists as native in the lower 48 states. It's on our flower lists for 2 states, and across the U.S. it's most often seen in bloom in May–July.
*iNaturalist research-grade observations, as of October 17, 2026.
Quick look
Kalmia microphylla, known as alpine laurel, bog laurel, swamp-laurel, western bog-laurel or western laurel, is a species of Kalmia of the family Ericaceae. It is native to North America and can be found throughout the western US and western and central Canada below the subarctic.
- It belongs to the Ericaceae family. iNaturalist
- USDA PLANTS describes it as a shrub / a subshrub with a perennial life cycle. USDA PLANTS
- USDA PLANTS lists it as native in the lower 48 states and records it in 10 states. USDA PLANTS
- NatureServe lists it as native to Alaska and Wyoming. NatureServe
- In Alaska, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in May–July. iNaturalist
- In Wyoming, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in May–July. iNaturalist
- USDA PLANTS lists its flower color as purple. USDA PLANTS
- USDA PLANTS gives its bloom period as late spring. USDA PLANTS
- USDA PLANTS lists a mature height of about 1 ft. USDA PLANTS
- iNaturalist has 456 research-grade sightings of it in Alaska, ranking #94 among the 108 flowers on our Alaska list. iNaturalist
- iNaturalist has 279 research-grade sightings of it in Wyoming, ranking #100 among the 107 flowers on our Wyoming list. iNaturalist
Western bog laurel gift ideas
Handmade western bog laurel gifts from independent makers.
🌱 Sample spot. Handmade gift picks from independent shops will appear here once our shop partnership is approved. These cards are placeholders, not real products.
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Western bog laurel art print
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Western bog laurel greeting card
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Western bog laurel mug
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Western bog laurel earrings
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Western bog laurel embroidery pattern
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Western bog laurel sticker
When does it bloom?
Conservation status
- Federal (U.S. ESA)
- Not listed No U.S. Endangered Species Act listing in the USFWS ECOS database. USFWS ECOS
- NatureServe global
- G5 Secure worldwide. NatureServe
- Alaska
- No list Alaska has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants, so we show NatureServe's Alaska ranks instead. NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in Alaska.
- Wyoming
- No list Wyoming has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants, so we show NatureServe's Wyoming ranks instead. NatureServe: S4, apparently secure in Wyoming.
- Rare elsewhere
- Other states where NatureServe ranks it rare or missing: NV (S2). (S1 critically imperiled, S2 imperiled, SH possibly extirpated, SX presumed extirpated.)
Checked October 17, 2026. Rankings and lists can change, so follow the links for the latest.
Can you eat it?
None of the sources we checked (NC State Extension (no page for this plant), USDA PLANTS) say whether it's edible or poisonous for people.
It isn't on the ASPCA plant list. For context only: ASPCA lists a related species, Kalmia augustifolia (“Lambkill”), as toxic to dogs and cats. That doesn't tell us about this species, so keep pets away to be safe. ASPCA
🌿 Never eat a wild plant unless you're certain of its ID; this isn't medical advice. Worried about a person? Call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222. Worried about a pet? Call your vet.
Where does it grow?
USDA PLANTS records Western bog laurel in 10 states.
recorded by USDA PLANTS on our state lists not recorded
See the full list of states
Alaska, California, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, Washington, Wyoming.
Alaska counties with USDA records: Haines, Juneau, Ketchikan Gateway, Sitka, Yakutat.
Wyoming counties with USDA records: Albany, Big Horn, Carbon, Fremont, Johnson, Park, Sheridan, Sublette, Teton.
More Alaska flowers
Sources
- USDA, NRCS. PLANTS Database, profile KAMI.
- iNaturalist, Kalmia microphylla: taxonomy, research-grade observation counts and “Flowering” annotations, retrieved October 17, 2026.
- Wikipedia, Kalmia microphylla (lead quoted under CC BY-SA 4.0).
- Alaska: Alaska prohibited and restricted noxious weeds (11 AAC 34.020).
- Wyoming: Wyoming state designated noxious weeds (W.S. 11-5-102(a)(xi)), as listed by the Wyoming Weed & Pest Council.
- USFWS, ECOS species database (ESA listing check), October 17, 2026.
- NatureServe Explorer, Kalmia microphylla (global and state ranks).
- Edibility and toxicity: ASPCA.
- Photo: Tanya Riseman via iNaturalist · CC BY 4.0 · resized.


