5/28/2023 0 Comments Kalmia minuetIts development into a wonderful garden shrub is mainly due to decades of work by Richard A. The flowers are usually white or pale pink, but darker plants can sometimes be found in the wild.įor a long time, the Mountain Laurel was not widely grown in gardens, and only produced by a few specialist nurseries. It grows into a large shrub to 15 feet tall, or even a small tree to 30 feet in the Appalachians. They grow in many places, but they are typically found growing in rocky or sandy open woodland areas, out in damp meadows, around the edges of woodlands, and on the slopes of mountains. Also known as Spoonwood or Calico Flower, this plant is native to the eastern states of America, growing all the way from New England into northern Florida, and in parts of Indiana and Louisiana as well. This is the most important member of the small group of flowers called Kalmia, and the only one widely grown in gardens. All in all, this is one of the most spectacular flowering shrubs you can grow, and more than worthy of a place in every garden. Often the inside of the flower is a strong contrast with the outside. Flower colors vary with the variety, and they can be white, shades of pink, or red, with or without dark bands and spots around the inside rim of the open bowl. The flowers have 5 prominent stamens in them, which add to the beauty of the bloom, especially with lighter colored flowers. There are many flowers in each cluster, and when a bush is in bloom the foliage is almost completely hidden by the wonderful and long-lasting display of this fabulous shrub. Each flower is large, around 1-inch across, and shaped like a 5-sided rice bowl. In spring the buds grow and enlarge, and they are often very colorful – deep red or pink – making a great show for weeks and weeks.Įventually the waiting is over, and the flowers open towards the end of May. These are fascinating, each one looking like it was made with an icing spout, with five fluted ridges down the sides. During winter, flower clusters begin to develop at the ends of every branch, expanding steadily into a large cluster of buds. The flowers of the Mountain Laurel open in May and June, but they are colorful and interesting from much earlier. New shoots may be dark red, adding interest as they develop. The may be more or less slender, again depending on the exact plant you grow. They are oval, between 2 and 6 inches long, depending on the variety and the final size of the plant. The leaves are deep green, leathery, glossy, and they often have undulating or waving edges. It has attractive bark that sheds in strips, and develops a striking, gnarled look with age. The stems are hidden by the leaves in younger plants, but as the plants mature the thick base becomes visible. The Appearance of Mountain LaurelĪ broad, upright evergreen shrub, the Mountain Laurel has an attractive multi-stemmed form, and depending on the variety it can be between 3 to 10 feet in height, with a matching spread. If you don’t have suitable soil, the smaller varieties in particular are ideal for growing in pots, where they can be placed in prominent places when in bloom, and then grown elsewhere for the rest of the year. Besides the lovely and long display of buds and flowers, the evergreen foliage is always attractive. It fits beautifully into woodland and natural settings, but it looks just as wonderful around your home in a more formal setting. Smaller varieties are perfect along the edges of beds, and larger ones as background shrubs in your borders. Mountain Laurel is ideal for shady gardens, and it also thrives in full sun if the soil is moist. Although it has some need for acid soil, it is less demanding than Rhododendrons, and it can be grown in many gardens with ease. It has been improved by the dedicated work of just a few plant breeders, so that now we have access to a wide range of sizes, flower forms and colors, and this great plant can take its rightful place in our gardens. Finally reaching a wider gardening audience, the Mountain Laurel, or Kalmia, is such a plant, which blooms spectacularly in the weeks between spring and summer. When they are attractive evergreen shrubs, with gorgeous flowers carried over a long season, they are even more desirable. Almost every garden has shade, and so plants that grow well without direct sun are always in demand.
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