Kalmia sp.
(c) Douglas Goldman, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), uploaded by Douglas Goldman · licence
Family: Ericaceae · Type: Shrub · Native
Kalmia sp. is a native California shrub in the Ericaceae family.
How to tell it apart
vs Rhaphiolepis: Kalmia has fused petals with anther pockets; Rhaphiolepis has separate flat petals.; vs Phyllodoce: Kalmia flowers have anther pockets; Phyllodoce has simple bell flowers without pockets.; vs Rhododendron: Kalmia has stamens held in pockets; Rhododendron has free stamens in bell flowers.; vs Ceanothus: Kalmia has cup-shaped heath flowers; Ceanothus has tiny flowers in dense rounded clusters.; vs Prunus: Kalmia has fused petals forming cups; Prunus has 5 separate spreading petals.
Frequently asked questions
Is Kalmia sp. native to California?
Yes. Kalmia sp. is native to California (recorded as native).
What plant family does Kalmia sp. belong to?
Kalmia sp. is in the Ericaceae family, genus Kalmia.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-04-14
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.