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Labrador Tea

(Rhododendron groenlandicum)

Labrador Tea plants are often found in boggy areas and in forest clearings.

 

They have leathery leaves with curled edges and an orange hairy underside.

This feature can be used to distinguish them from sheep laurel, with which they are commonly associated.
They can be boiled to make a refreshing tea.

 

New leaves emerging in June. They can be boiled to make a refreshing tea.

Labrador Tea blooms in late June producing a ball of white flowers at the top of the plant

The flowers have five elongated petals

 

    Choosing your plants

  • Select a patch of Labrador tea plants in an area that you visit regularly

  • Mark the patch with a ribbon on a stick or other marker to make sure that you always visit the same place.

  • If you have a large patch of plants mark off a one metre square area and observe only the plants within the square. Take care not to damage the plants when marking your square!

    What to record

  • Record when the first flowers are observed in bloom (in three different places)

  • Make a note of when 50% of the flowers are in bloom.

  • Finally record when nearly all of the flowers are blooming.

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