This is the less common variety occidentalis. It can reach two feet and has longer and narrower leaves than microphylla.

Common in moist (although not inundated) subalpine meadows, but sometimes missed among the sedges and rushes, the flowers are pale to deep pink, with five petals. There are two varieties; this is variety microphylla.

A member of the Heather Family, Kalmia is an evergreen plant with short, broad leaves. The flowers are quite unlike any other in the subalpine meadows.