About
Labrador tea is a flowering perennial shrub native to all parts of Canada and much of Northern United States. It can be found colonizing the understory of acidic conifer wetlands, swamps, and bogs. It can also sometimes be seen growing on mountain slopes or on waters edge.
The leaves have a unique downward curl along the edges with fuzzy orange undersides. They're scented of essential oils and traditionally used to make herbal tea (as the name implies) by native American tribes and early settlers.
Fragrant and sticky white flowers appear from late spring to early summer. The evergreen leaves and seed heads persist into winter, providing winter interest for the keen eye.
Growing From Seed
Growing from seed is one of the most economical and satisfying ways to build a native plant garden. The table shows brief planting instructions, including how long and what kind of stratification this plant needs. For further information on stratification and seed preparation please refer to our article: Preparing To Grow Wild Plant Seeds
| Seeds/Packet | 30+ |
|---|---|
| Seeds/Gram | Coming soon... |
| Cost/Gram | Price coming soon... For bulk orders (min $20) |
| Dormancy Treatment | Cold Moist Stratification |
| Seeding Instructions | Cold moist stratify for 30days then plant in moist peat and expose to full sun or part shade. Stratifying isn't necessary but improves germination. Don't allow to dry out after planting. |
Growing From Plants
Seedlings are a more economical option than established plants and an easier start than growing from seed. Our plants are shipped in soil blocks or plug trays. Plants do surprizingly well in the mail but need special care upon arrival. Please see Planting Mail Order Seedlings for information on how to plant and care for seedlings.
Shipping
We currently ship seeds to all Canadian provinces and ship plants just within the provinces of British Columbia and Alberta. Seeds ship year-round and usually take a few days (or longer if you are ordering from a distant province). It usually takes 2-5 business days in the mail for plant orders once shipped. Plants are generally available from May to September and can be reserved during off season; Shipping costs are calculated during checkout. Seed orders over $100 ship free! See Shipping for more details.