Plant Smart

Kalmia spp.

Kalmia spp. is toxic to cats, dogs and horses. The reported severity is critical. Also known as Mountain-Laurels, Mountain Laurel and Sheep Laurel.

dogs cats horses

Mild Moderate Severe Critical

This plant is known to be potentially deadly!

  • If you're comfortable with the risk, ensure this plant is out of reach of your animal.
  • If you suspect your animal has ingested portions of this plant, immediately consult your veterinarian.
  • If your animal is experiencing any of the associated symptoms, immediately contact your veterinarian's emergency number for further instructions.

If your animal ate this plant, call your veterinarian now, or one of these services.

What do I do right now?
  • Australia
    Animal Poisons Helpline 1300 869 738 24 hours, every day · From $75
  • Austria
    Vergiftungsinformationszentrale 01 406 43 43 24 hours, every day
  • Belgium
    Centre Antipoisons 070 245 245 08:00 to 22:00 on weekdays, 10:00 to 22:00 at weekends · Human calls come first. The centre has no funding for animal work.
  • Canada
    Pet Poison Helpline (855) 764-7661 24 hours, every day · $89 for each incident
  • France
    Centre National d'Informations Toxicologiques Vétérinaires 04 78 87 10 40 08:30 to midnight, every day
  • Germany
    Giftinformationszentrum Bonn 0228 19240 24 hours, every day · Germany has no dedicated animal service. Human calls come first, so an animal call can wait.
  • Ireland

    Ireland has no animal poison service for owners. Call your veterinarian. An Irish veterinarian can consult the Veterinary Poisons Information Service in the United Kingdom.

  • Italy
    Centro Antiveleni di Milano 02 6610 1029 24 hours, every day
  • Netherlands
    Nationaal Vergiftigingen Informatie Centrum 088 755 8000 Veterinarians only 24 hours, every day · Call your veterinarian. Your veterinarian calls this line.
  • New Zealand
    Animal Poisons Helpline 0800 869 738 24 hours, every day
  • Sweden

    Giftinformationscentralen stopped answering questions about animals on 1 July 2018. Call your veterinarian or an animal hospital.

  • Switzerland
    Tox Info Suisse 145 24 hours, every day · From outside Switzerland, call +41 44 251 51 51.
  • United Kingdom
    Animal PoisonLine 01202 509 000 24 hours, every day · £35 from 08:00 to 20:00 Monday to Friday, £45 at other times
    Veterinary Poisons Information Service 020 7305 5055 Veterinarians only 24 hours, every day · A members only service. Your veterinarian calls this line.
  • United States
    ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (888) 426-4435 24 hours, every day · A consultation fee applies
    Pet Poison Helpline (855) 764-7661 24 hours, every day · $89 for each incident

Symptoms to watch for

Vomiting Diarrhea Weakness Cardiac Failure Abdominal Pain Drooling Loss Of Appetite Colic Depression Incoordination Stupor Paralysis Weak Pulse Recumbency Coma Death Tremors Seizures High Heart Rate Difficulty Breathing

The color of each symptom follows the severity scale above.

About

Kalmia is a genus of about ten species of evergreen shrubs from 0.2–5 m tall, in the family Ericaceae (heath). They are native to North America and Cuba. They grow in acidic soils, with different species in wet acid bog habitats and dry, sandy soils.

Common Names

  • Mountain-Laurels
  • Mountain Laurel
  • Sheep Laurel
  • Swamp Laurel
  • Western Bog Laurel
  • Kalm's Lobelia
  • Alpine Azalea
  • Sand Myrtle
  • Prairie Brome
  • Sandhill Laurel
  • Carolina Wicky
  • Kalm's St. John's-Wort
  • Canada Hawkweed
  • White Wicky

Also recorded as Kalmia, Lambkill, Laurel, Spoonwood and sheepkills.

Related plants

More from the Ericaceae family:

Browse all 281 plants

Images

Suggest a change
Wikipedia

Facts

Family
Ericaceae
Duration
Perennial
Growth habit
Shrub, Subshrub, Tree
In the wild
US, CA, NO, CH, FR, AT + more
Source
Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0
Elsewhere
GBIF iNaturalist USDA

Countries with the most wild observations, from GBIF data.