Marsh Labrador Tea (Ledum palustre) seeds

Out of stock

Marsh Labrador Tea (Ledum palustre) seeds

Contents: Approx. 500 seeds
Open-pollinated variety, seed tested regularly

6,95 €

incl. VAT , plus

SKU: LED01

GTIN: 4251420513564

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The Marsh Labrador Tea (also Rhododendron tomentosum) is an evergreen shrub that reaches 0.5 to 1.5 metres and preferably grows in moors and peat soils.

Its leaves are full of essential oil, which was used for the brewing of beer in the past and intensified the effect of the alcohol.
Furthermore, it was mixed with bog myrtle to brew the famous gruit ale.

Its leaves are slightly poisonous and, today, are only used in folk medicine, e.g. against insect or tick bites, anymore.
It's also suitable for fumigation as its leaves exude a slight camphor scent. A long stay in a field with Labrador tea is said to have an intoxicating effect because of its scent.

Due to the drainage of moorlands, it has become very rare.

Plant description

Species:	Ericaceae
Plant type:	Shrub
Flower colour:	White
Region of origin:	Northern Europe Asia North America
Special features:	Needs cold to germinate Poisonous plant
Use:	Herb/spice plant Scented plant Ornamental plant Medicinal plant
Climate:	Temperate
Lifecycle:	Perennial Hardy
Flowering months:	May June July

Growing advice

Sowing depth:	0 cm
Planting distance:	50 cm
Germination temperature:	3-5°C
When to sow outdoors:	January February September October November December

Evergreen shrub. Cold germination: sow outdoors at the beginning of spring or in autumn. Alternatively, you can use artificial stratification, as follows. Mix the seeds with moist sand in a plastic bag. Keep the bag warm and moist (approx. +20°C) for the first 2-4 weeks and then place it in the refrigerator and keep it at a temperature of +5°C for 5-6 weeks. Then remove the plastic bag from the refrigerator and remove the seed and sand mix from the bag. Keep the sand mix at room temperature and check the seeds regularly to see when they germinate. Prick the seedlings into pots and plant them out after the last frosts in mid-May.