An evergreen wetland shrub with an unusual bimodal distribution in North Carolina, common in the Coastal Plain, rare in the Mountains, and absent from the Piedmont. Native to only five states in the southeastern US (Virginia to Georgia), Kalmia carolina is only common in the North Carolina Coastal Plain.
Alternate common names include Carolina-Laurel, Carolina Wicky, and Carolina Bog Myrtle.
Pender Co., NC 4/23/06.
Kalmia carolina differs from Kalmia latifolia (Mountain-Laurel) in habitat (wetter), stature (much smaller), leaf arrangement (whorled in carolina, alternate in latifolia), and flower arrangement (axillary in carolina, terminal in latifolia).
The more similar Kalmia angustifolia (Northern Sheepkill) reaches the southern limit of its range in the northeastern Coastal Plain of North Carolina, where it is rare. It differs in having glandular calyces and bracts and leaves that are glabrous beneath.
Formerly more commonly known as K. angustifolia var. carolina; listed (in error) in Radford's manual as K. angustifolia var. caroliniana
Sparta Bog, Alleghany Co., NC 6/18/06.
Flower detail.
Alleghany Co., NC 6/18/06.
Flowering is normally in spring, but Southern Sheepkill may flower in fall in recently burned areas.
Columbus Co., NC 9/28/2013.
Columbus Co., NC 9/28/2013.
Columbus Co., NC 9/28/2013.
Columbus Co., NC 9/28/2013.
Dry capsules remain through the winter.
Bladen Co., NC 3/25/07.
Flower buds just starting to expand.
Bladen Co., NC 3/25/07.
Columbus Co., NC 9/28/2013.
Bark detail.
Bladen Co., NC 3/25/07.