Kalmia latifolia – Mountain Laurel – 1.5-Pint

This shrub hardly needs an introduction. Combine it’s frequent occurrence in the woodland understory with its spectacular bloom, especially along well-traveled, sunnier forest road cuts and “Everone knows Mountain Laurel…” Indeed  it’s  widely considered to be one of North America’s finest flowering shrubs. The straight species though is difficult to find in horticulture, supplanted by varieties in deeper shades of pink or with a band of color in the flower interior. While these varieties originally occurred in wild plants, they have been enhanced by breeding and selection. The simple pink bud/white flower of straight species plants is what many yearn for and available here. Mountain Laurel prefers morning sun and a cool, moist, well-mulched, acidic soil. Flowering will be heavier in full sun but the plants must be watered consistently for a few years until they get established and the soil must always be mulched.