Medicinal Trees: Mountain Laurel (Kalmia latifolia) and Crape-myrtle (Lagerstroemia indica)

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  • Torey
    Torey Posts: 5,516 admin

    I had to look up crape myrtle cause I don't think I have ever seen one. Possibly, when in southwestern BC where it could survive, but didn't know what it was. Gorgeous tree! Fall leaf colours as well as beautiful flowers.

    Kalmia grows up in the mountains in my area. I've never used it but have the info in my personal materia medica, should I ever need it for a wash or liniment. My daughter just found a patch of it in a swampy area on a recent trip up to the alpine. I think it was actually the K. procumbens species, not K. microphylla which is the other species in BC. Such pretty flowers for such a toxic plant!

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  • judsoncarroll4
    judsoncarroll4 Posts: 5,361 admin
    https://community.thegrownetwork.com/discussion/comment/917500#Comment_917500

    I have read that even honey made from the flower nectar is very toxic. I'm very curious about the Heather, which if memory serves is a British relative. There are a lot of legends about heather being used in beer and mead by the Picts.

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  • Torey
    Torey Posts: 5,516 admin
    edited October 2022

    I have heard that about honey and Kalmia, too. I also read that pheasants who feed on the seed can pass along the toxicity when the pheasant is eaten.

    I will pay more attention to what grouse in the mountains are eating. :)

    We have two species that are referred to as heather here but they are Phyllodoce genus, not the true heathers from Britain, Calluna species. I haven't looked into them to see if they have any similar properties. Just too hard for me to get up to their habitat. But one day when I have nothing else to do (ha-ha), I will look into it.

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  • judsoncarroll4
    judsoncarroll4 Posts: 5,361 admin
    https://community.thegrownetwork.com/discussion/comment/917503#Comment_917503

    One thing is for sure, they are all very pretty plants!

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  • JennyT Upstate South Carolina
    JennyT Upstate South Carolina Posts: 1,273 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Discovering mountain laurel 17 years ago when we moved up here to SC has been a treat.

    I just love seeing it everywhere when we're out hiking. I even persuaded my family to help me once take downed trees home after a series of tornadoes knocked down many. I'm looking forward to using them in decorating our new house.😁

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  • Cornelius
    Cornelius Posts: 872 ✭✭✭✭

    I have a friend that has Crape-myrtle. I will have to ask for a cutting lol.

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  • JennyT Upstate South Carolina
    JennyT Upstate South Carolina Posts: 1,273 ✭✭✭✭✭

    The whole family loves seeing the crape-myrtle trees around here where we live. We absolutely hate it when we see ones that have been "crape-murdered," where they've cut all the branches off.

    Just down the street from us, there are ones that have never been cut and they are absolutely stunning and soooo big! I wish everyone would do that and not trim them.😍

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  • judsoncarroll4
    judsoncarroll4 Posts: 5,361 admin
    https://community.thegrownetwork.com/discussion/comment/917565#Comment_917565

    I agree completely. I have no idea why people commit "crape murder"!

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  • nicksamanda11
    nicksamanda11 Posts: 721 ✭✭✭✭

    Lol!!

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