Michigan State University Extension
Ornamental Plants plus Version 3.0 - 00000816
11/12/99

Kalmia latifolia--Mountain-laurel


Hardiness Zones: 4 to 9
Height: 12 ft Spread: 12 ft Form: (Vis. 1) rounded
Type: broad-leaved evergreen shrub
Annual Growth Rate: less than 12 inches
Flowers: Pink, red white

Comments: This broad-leaved evergreen requires an acid,
well-aerated soil and a growing area with sun, although it
tolerates shade. Some exposure to sun is required for
proper flower color development of red and (Vis. 2) pink
cultivars. The flowers (Vis. 3) open in late spring or
early summer and once they fade they should be removed.
Kalmia's cultural requirements are similar to those of
rhododendron' and azaleas and so they can be grown together.
Some protection from winter sun and wind is suggested when
it is grown in northern climates. Field grown plants are
reported to transplant more successfully than do
container-grown plants.

Cultivars:
'Bravo' - Dark pink buds and flowers.
'Bridesmaid' - The deep pink buds open to pink flowers
with white centers.
'Bullseye' - White flowers having a purple band.
'Carol' - Red buds open to pink flowers. The plant
forms a low, rounded mound.
'Carousel' - White flowers with purple banding.
'Compact Pink' - A wide and compact plant with dark
pink flowers.
'Elf' - A dwarf cultivar with pink buds opening to
pale pink flowers.
'Freckles' - Pink buds open to white flowers that have
purplish spots.
'Fuscata' - The white flowers have a maroon band.
'Good Show' - A pink-flowered cultivar reaching a
height and spread of 6 to 8 feet.
'Heart's Desire' - The flowers are mostly red with a
white band at the edge and center of the petals.
'Hoffman's Pink' - Dark pink buds open to pale pink
flowers.
'Kaleidescope' - A cultivar with red buds opening to
cinnamon colored flowers with a white center and
edge.
'Little Linda' - A dwarf, the pink buds open to red
flowers.
'Minuet' - One of the smaller cultivars. The buds are
light pink. The flowers have white centers and red
spokes lead to a red band surrounded by a white edge.
'Nancy' - Red buds and deep pink flowers with maroon
centers.
'Nipmuck' - Light red buds open to light pink flowers.
'Olympic Fire' - A large, 15-foot shrub with deep red
buds that open to pink flowers.
'Ostbo Red' - The deep, red buds are followed by light
pink flowers the color of which deepens the longer
they are open.
'Pink Charm' - Red buds open to bright pink flowers.
'Pink Frost' - Pink flower buds open to silvery-pink
flowers.
'Raspberry Glow' - Burgundy red flower buds open to
pink flowers.
'Sarah' - Red flower buds open to pinkish-red flowers.
'Sharon Rose' - A pink-flowered cultivar with a height
and spread of up to 10 feet.
'Shooting Star' - The white flowers have an unusual
shape that resembles a star.
'Silver Dollar' - Pink buds open to large white flowers.
'Snowdrift' - A compact, white-flowered cultivar.
'Sunset' - A wide, open-growing plant with dark red
buds and nearly red flowers.
'Tiddlywinks' - A dwarf with pink flowers, 2 feet tall.
'Tinkerbell' - A dwarf with medium pink flowers, 3 to 4
feet tall.
'Twenty' - A low, compact plant that bears dark pink
buds and pink flowers.
'White Mountain' - Nearly white buds open to white
flowers.
'Yankee Doodle' - The pink buds open to white flowers
having a narrow red band.

Related Information.
Pesticide Recommendations

References for Cultivars: Lake County Nursery 1994, Ray
Wiegand's Nursery 1999, Rose Bay Nursery 1993, Roslyn
Nursery 1990, Weston Nurseries 1999, Princeton Nurseries
1999, Monrovia Nursery Company 1997, White Flower Farm
1999, Wayside Gardens 1999, Sheridan Nurseries 1997, Iseli
Nursery 1999, Gee Farms 1999, Willoway Nurseries 1999.


Go To Top of File        Michigan State University Extension Home Page        Main Page for this Data Base        MNLA Web Site
This information is for educational purposes only. References to commercial products or trade names does not imply endorsement by MSU Extension or bias against those not mentioned. This information becomes public property upon publication and may be printed verbatim with credit to MSU Extension. Reprinting cannot be used to endorse or advertise a commercial product or company. This file was generated from data base ZZ on 01/19/00. Data base ZZ was last revised on 11/12/99. For more information about this data base or its contents please contact heatley@msue.msu.edu . Please read our disclaimer for important information about using our site.