Kalmia polifolia

Bog laurel is in the heath or Ericaceae family. It is native to north-eastern North America, from Newfoundland to Hudson Bay and southward. It is a perennial evergreen shrub of cold acidic bogs, growing to 0.6 m tall.

• Leaves are evergreen, simple, opposite, occasionally in whorls of 3 and 2.5–3.7 cm long, up to 1.3 cm wide, waxy, margin entire, with a pointed or blunt tip and little or no leaf stalk. Below each leaf base there are ridges, where it appears as though a part of the leaf is curled around the circumference of the stem. This is especially noticeable lower on the plant.
• Flowers are attractive, small, deep crimson-pink, produced in racemes of 4–12 flowers in early summer, each 0.8-1.3 cm across, pink to purple, saucer shaped with 5 petals.
• Fruit is a 5-chambered, round capsule 6 mm across, with the long erect remains of the pistil at the top.