About Rhododendron tomentosum (Stokes) Harmaja
Rhododendron tomentosum (Stokes) Harmaja is a low, evergreen shrub. It typically grows to 50 cm tall, and rarely reaches heights of up to 120 cm. Its leaves measure 12–50 mm long and 2–12 mm broad. It produces small flowers, each with a five-lobed white corolla; several flowers grow together in a 3–5 cm diameter corymb. The flowers release a strong scent to attract bees and other pollinating insects. This species grows at northern latitudes across North America, including Greenland, Canada, and Alaska; it is also found in northern and central Europe, and in Asia as far south as northern China, Korea, and Japan. It inhabits peaty soils, shrubby areas, and moss and lichen tundra. In herbalism, Rhododendron tomentosum is used to prepare an herbal tea known as "Labrador tea". No material benefits of this use have been documented in any properly controlled study. Traditionally, marsh Labrador tea was used as a gruit for brewing beer during the Middle Ages. Because of its strong fragrance, it was also formerly used as a natural insect deterrent against clothes moths, mosquitoes, and bugs generally, in Scandinavia and Eastern Europe.
