Growing the Sarah Kalmia

Size and Appearance

The Sarah Kalmia is a rounded evergreen bush growing 4 to 5 feet tall and wide, developing a handsome gnarled base of thick branches and red-brown shedding bark as it matures. It stays dense and bushy, and the attractive glossy, dark green leaves guarantee its garden value all year round. The leaves have an undulating oval form, giving the plant a special charm, and new growth is burgundy, for an extra touch of color. Around 2 or 3 inches long, the leathery leaves keep their dark-green coloring through all the seasons, rivalling any evergreen grown for foliage alone.

In fall and early winter you will see tiny red branches growing from the ends of the stems. These curious structures, like clenched babies’ hands, develop slowly through winter into clusters of dark red-pink buds with ribbed sides, looking a little like icing decorations for a cake. These stay attractive for months, right through early spring, until by late May they begin to open. Each one expands into a beautiful bloom an inch across, like a 5-sided bowl, with a pink interior. The dark pink shades elegantly to lighter tones deeper inside the bowl, making a wonderful color display. Each bloom is decorated inside with a star-shaped cluster of white stamens.

Using the Sarah Kalmia in Your Garden

Use the Sarah Kalmia as you would any other medium-sized evergreen bush, in the planting around your home or in beds. Grow it on slopes and at the edges of wooded areas, or beneath open trees. Always attractive, it fits perfectly into any garden style.

Hardiness

You can grow this native plant throughout its natural range, from zone 5 to zone 9, and it tolerates the south-eastern climate well.

Sun Exposure and Soil Conditions

The ideal garden location for the Sarah Kalmia would have sun in the morning and shade in the afternoon. Other good spots are against the north-facing wall of your home, or in the shade of trees, perhaps at the outer edge, where the sky is clear overhead. Light dappled shade beneath trees is also suitable. The best soil is sandy and well-drained, but not dry. Avoid wet spots and heavy clay, and enrich lighter soils with lime-free organic material to hold moisture. The soil should have a pH of no more than 6.0, and preferably between 5.5 and 4.5. You can tell if you have this acid soil in seconds, with a simple testing kit or meter.

Maintenance and Pruning

This plant is usually free of pests or diseases, and deer won’t eat the leaves, which are poisonous. Don’t use fertilizer, simply mulch with some organic material in spring. Water regularly, especially when young, and that’s it – easy. Pruning is not advised, as it will reduce blooming, but remove the flower heads as soon as they are finished blooming, to prevent seeding and maximize next year’s crop of flowers.

History and Origin of the Sarah Kalmia

If you walk the hills and mountains of the east, from Maine to northern Florida, you might find the mountain laurel, Kalmia latifolia, growing on banks and in forests. The wild tree grows up to 15 feet, and until the last few decades it wasn’t grown much in gardens. All that began to change when breeders started to take an interest. The world-authority Richard Jaynes has been a major creator of our best garden varieties. He worked for years at the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station in New Haven, and collected unusual wild plants from his botanical work out in the woods. He cross-pollinated these unique plants, using his knowledge of genetics, and created many of the most popular plants we grow today. The variety he named ‘Sarah’ was released to growers in 1983, so it was probably bred in the mid-1970s.

Buying the Sarah Kalmia at the Tree Center

The many varieties of Kalmia available today make this a valuable type of shrub that should be in every garden. With just a little attention you can enjoy the unique beauty of these plants, and the Sarah Kalmia is indeed both beautiful and unique. Order now, and check-out our other varieties too, but order right away, because these plants are hard to source, and they soon sell out.

Growing the Keepsake Kalmia

Size and Appearance

The Keepsake Kalmia grows into a mounded bush, reaching 4 or 5 feet tall, with a similar spread. At that size it’s perfect for the middle of larger beds or the back of smaller ones, or for tucking into a corner anywhere. The foliage is always attractive and the leaves are 2 or 3 inches long, smooth ovals with a glossy, dark-green surface. They cluster densely on the branches, which are many, keeping even mature plants full and attractive.

By early winter you will see curious clusters of tiny red stems growing at the ends of every branch. These look like clenched fingers, and slowly, through winter and early spring, they develop into large clusters of unique, dark pink buds which are as attractive as many flowers, and very showy. Each one looks like a fluted cone or some exotic piece of porcelain sculpture. As they mature each bud develops a white end. In late May, continuing into June, these buds open into large, 1-inch diameter flowers that look like 5-sided bowls. They are dark pink, with a fine white line outlining the edge and a star-like cluster of white stamens in the center – a wonderful miniature art-work just like some vintage keepsake.

Using the Keepsake Kalmia in Your Garden

Because it has such attractive foliage and bushy form, you can use the Keepsake Kalmia as an evergreen in foundation planting, or at the back of beds. Use it beneath large trees, or in a woodland garden behind azaleas and rhododendrons. It is always lovely, wherever you grow it.

Hardiness

You can grow this plant everywhere from cool, northern zone 5 to northern Florida or Oregon, in zone 9.

Sun Exposure and Soil Conditions

The Keepsake Kalmia is the perfect shrub for those partially-shaded spots where many shrubs don’t flower well. It grows best with some morning sun followed by afternoon shade, and also thrives on the north side of buildings, in the summer shadow, and beneath open deciduous trees in light full shade. Avoid areas shaded by large evergreens, which are usually too dark. This plant needs acid soil, with a pH of no more than 6.0, and preferably below 5.5. The soil should be moist but well-drained, so avoid places with heavy clay, and lighten the soil with acid-free organic material. Rich but sandy soils are ideal.

Maintenance and Pruning

Even deer don’t bother with the Keepsake Kalmia, and neither do pests or diseases. Keep young plants well-watered, and established plants do have limited resistance to ordinary summer dry periods. It is best to avoid pruning as much as possible, as this tends to reduce blooming. The only attention needed is to remove the spent flower heads, without removing any leaves, as you do for rhododendrons. This prevents seeding and encourages more blooms for the following year.

History and Origin of the Keepsake Kalmia

The mountain laurel, Kalmia latifolia, is the only species normally grown in gardens from small group of plants, which has only 7 species in it. It grows wild all through the east, except for the hottest and coldest parts, usually in mountain forests or on slopes. There are several natural forms, and one, called fuscata, has a band of brownish-purple around the inside of the flower cup. Although not apparent in the variety called ‘Keepsake’, it was the source of the dark flower color, and explains the band of white around the edge. This unique plant was created by the world-authority on Kalmia, Richard A. Jaynes, who was a professional geneticist and breeder at the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station in New Haven. Before leaving and setting up his own nursery, he bred many new forms, using unusual plants collected in the wild. ‘Keepsake’ was found among seedlings from a cross done in 1983, and after study and trials it was released into the waiting arms of nurseries and gardeners in 1997.

Buying the Keepsake Kalmia at the Tree Center

If you haven’t been growing kalmia, you have been missing out on great beauty in your garden. The Keepsake Kalmia is a perfect plant to start with, or to add to your existing collection, but order now, because our stock is very limited.

Growing the Elf Kalmia

Size and Appearance

The Elf Kalmia is a rounded evergreen shrub that grows steadily, reaching about 3 feet tall and wide within 10 years. It has many branches that grow from the base, which in time becomes thick and gnarled, with peeling bark, giving a wonderful look of maturity and permanence. When young the growth is vigorous, slowing down as it matures. The small leaves are leathery, about 2 inches long, with a smooth glossy surface and a rich green color that stays all year round. Out of flower this plant is as attractive as any foliage evergreen, and it always looks great.

Of course it is the blooms that are the big attraction, and these begin to be visible even in fall and early winter. Clusters of buds develop at the end of every branch, looking at first like a cluster of tiny curled fingers, and then developing through winter into pink buds, shaped like many-sided cones. These add lots of interest and color, really extending the time of special interest. By the end of May and into June – after the first flush of spring blooms is over – these buds open, and the Elf Kalmia is smothered in pure white, like a summer snowfall. Each bud opens into a white flower an inch across, shaped like a 5-sided cup, holding within it a prominent star of tiny stamens. The blooms of Kalmia are unique and extraordinary, and if you don’t know them you are in for a treat. The combination of pink buds and white flowers as the first ones open is especially charming, and blooms stay attractive for several weeks.

Using the Elf Kalmia in Your Garden

Think of the Elf Kalmia as an evergreen for garden structure, that has the bonus of gorgeous blooms. Use it around your home in the foreground of your foundation planting. Grow it at the corners of your beds, or along a path. It fits perfectly into any garden bed, beneath trees and in more natural wooded areas. It even makes an attractive potted plant with a unique look.

Hardiness

This bush is hardy in all the mild and warmer parts of the country. In zone 5 water deeply just before periods when the ground freezes, to protect from foliage burn.

Sun Exposure and Soil Conditions

Every garden has shady places, and that is where the Elf Kalmia loves to be – it’s a combination made in heaven. A spot with morning sun and shade in the afternoon is perfect, or in continuous light shade, such as the shadow of a building or fence, or in the light, open shade beneath deciduous trees. Good drainage is the secret to success with kalmia, and clay soils are usually not suitable. Open, more sandy soils are preferred, but ordinary garden soil enriched with lime-free organic material is great. The soil must be acidic, with a pH of 6.0 or less, with 5.5 to 4.5 being ideal. If you don’t have suitable soil (and you can test it easily), the simplest answer is to grow it in a pot, using potting soil for acid-loving plants.

Maintenance and Pruning

Very little care is needed to grow this superb shrub. It generally has no pests or diseases, and deer don’t bother with it, as all parts of this plant are poisonous. Don’t trim or prune, as this will stop flowering. The only care you might do is to remove the spent flower heads, cutting or snapping them out as you might do for rhododendrons, without removing any leaves. This prevents seeds developing, and increases blooms for the next year.

History and Origin of the Elf Kalmia

You will find the mountain laurel, Kalmia latifolia, all through the east, from southern Maine to northern Florida. Wild plants are found on mountain slopes and beneath the trees in forests, and they can be up to 15 feet tall. Among wild plants there are some that have small leaves, and these are called myrtifolia, which means ‘leaves like myrtle bushes’. It was plants like these that Richard A. Jaynes used to develop compact small varieties of kalmia. Jaynes is a professional geneticist and breeder, who worked at the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station in New Haven. There he bred some of the world’s best kalmias, and became an authority on these wonderful plants. He created the variety he called ‘Elf’ in the 1970s, and released it in 1982, shortly before he set up the Broken Arrow Nursery in Connecticut to specialize in his great love – the mountain laurel.

Buying the Elf Kalmia at the Tree Center

Plants like this rival the best of the azaleas, and no acid garden should be without them. Order now, because the demand is always huge, and these plants are hard to reproduce (but easy to grow), so supplies are always very limited.

Growing the Peppermint Mountain Laurel

Size and Appearance

The Peppermint Mountain Laurel is a rounded evergreen shrub with glossy, dark-green leaves that are 2 to 3 inches long, with a smooth surface and a leathery texture. This plant is dense and well-branched, forming a compact mound of foliage right to the ground, and reaching 4 feet tall and 3½ feet wide within 5 to 7 years of planting. Older plants develop a woody base, with attractive reddish-brown, slightly peeling bark. It looks attractive and appealing all year round, even when not in bloom.

We first see the flower buds in late fall, as tiny clusters at the ends of the branches. These are pink, and over the winter months and especially through spring they develop steadily, already looking attractive by early spring. The clusters of pink buds are large and showy long before flowering begins around the middle of May or early June. The flower buds are unique and charming, looking a little like those decorations of piped icing seen on cakes. When the blooms open they are stunning. Each one is a 5-sided bowl, very pale pink to white inside, retaining the darker pink outside color of the buds. There is an explosion of beauty inside, with 10 bold dark-red stripes shooting up the inside, making a striking contrast. They do indeed look a lot like those old-fashioned red and white striped peppermint candies.

Using the Peppermint Mountain Laurel in Your Garden

This shrub is an excellent background plant for smaller beds or planted as a natural hedge. It fits perfectly as a specimen in a smaller bed or planted in groups of 3 or 5 in larger beds. Plant it beneath trees, among your foundation plants, or among azaleas and rhododendrons in a woodland garden. As a native shrub it is perfect for wild and natural gardening too, adding a great touch of color. Plant on shady banks and slopes, or near water, but not in wet soil. With its fibrous root system, it will live for many years in planters and pots as well, which is ideal if you don’t have suitable soil in your garden.

Hardiness

The Peppermint Mountain Laurel is hardy from zone 5 to zone 9. Soak the root zone in late fall in zone 5, to reduce the risk of winter-burn on the foliage.

Sun Exposure and Soil Conditions

Partial shade is perfect for the Peppermint Mountain Laurel. Some morning sun and afternoon shade is ideal, or in the light, dappled shade beneath trees. Avoid deep shade, such as beneath dense evergreens, while locations under deciduous trees are ideal. The east and north side of a building are also suitable. In zone 5 it will take more sun. Although easier to grow than them, this plant enjoys similar soil conditions to azaleas and rhododendrons. The soil should be rich, moist and well-drained. Slightly acidic soil is perfect, but neutral soils are tolerated well, if you enrich the soil with lime-free materials such as rotted leaves. Avoid heavy clay soil. Once established it has some drought resistance to normal summer dryness, but regular watering is recommended.

Maintenance and Pruning

Pests and diseases are usually not a problem with mountain laurel, and these are easy-care shrubs if they have suitable soil conditions. Use potting soil and fertilizers for acid-loving plants when growing in planters, which should have drainage holes. No pruning is needed, but you can trim a little immediately after flowering if you wish, to encourage extra-bushy growth. Remove the flower heads once they have faded, to prevent seed production, which can reduce flowering the following year. Do not trim in summer, or flowering will be greatly reduced.

History and Origin of the Peppermint Mountain Laurel

The Peppermint Mountain Laurel was created by Richard Jaynes, a plant breeder and geneticist with the Connecticut Agricultural Experimental Station in New Haven. He began breeding mountain laurel, Kalmia latifolia, in 1961, and continued it after he retired in 1984, at his Broken Arrow Nursery in Hamden, Connecticut. The wild plant grows in mountainous areas from Maine to northern Florida, and it can reach 15 feet or more in height, with white flowers. Jaynes collected unusual plants he found growing wild, and bred them together, breeding again from some of the seedlings he grew that were unique and interesting. He made the crosses for the variety he called ‘Peppermint’ in 1984, but he didn’t release the plant until 1991, after extensive testing. All Jaynes’ plants have been carefully studied for quality, and they are not ‘quick-release’ gimmicks, but quality plants you will love to grow.

Buying the Peppermint Mountain Laurel at The Tree Center

The use of tissue culture in laboratory greenhouses has revolutionized the growing of mountain laurel, which was always limited by difficulties in propagating large numbers. Today we can offer you superb young plants that are genetically identical to Jaynes’ original seedling, quite different from inferior cheap seedlings. These plants are catching on, and demand is high for the best varieties, so order your plants now, while we still have stock available.

Growing the Nipmuck Mountain Laurel

Size and Appearance

The Nipmuck Mountain Laurel is a broad, upright, evergreen shrub that grows to about 4 feet tall and wide. It has a dense, bushy form, with the base becoming woody in time. The bark is an attractive reddish-brown, and peels in thin strips, giving mature plants a solid, rugged look. The leaves are about 3 inches long, dark green, with a leathery texture and a glossy surface, reminiscent of rhododendron leaves. They stay green and attractive all year round.

The Nipmuck Mountain Laurel is later to flower than most other varieties of this shrub, and it is usually in bloom throughout June. It is a wonderful way to extend the season, if you have other mountain laurel varieties, and to add color at a time that is often lacking flowers from most other shrubs. The blooms are visible as early as fall, when they first appear at the ends of maturing shoots, as clusters of small red stalks. These develop slowly over the winter months and through spring. By then they have grown into clusters of unique red buds that are very colorful and showy, with multiple flattened sides and a central point, as if they have been iced onto a cake. For the weeks and weeks before they open they add lots of color to your beds. The 6-inch flower clusters contain many buds, and they are profuse all across the plant. When they do open, each one is a pink cup shaped like a rice bowl, dark on the outside, pale inside, with a series of red stripes radiating up the inside of the bowl. Flowers stay effective for several weeks.

Using the Nipmuck Mountain Laurel in Your Garden

Consider the Nipmuck Mountain Laurel as a compact evergreen, and you know how to use it. Plant around your home, on the east side, or on a bright northern side. Use it for structure in your shady beds, around trees or on the edge of wooded areas. Plant it in natural settings in open woodland, or on banks and slopes. If you don’t have suitable soil, grow it in a large pot or planter.

Hardiness

The Nipmuck Mountain Laurel is hardy from zone 5 all through zone 9. In zone 5 plant in a sheltered position and water well in later fall, to avoid winter burn.

Sun Exposure and Soil Conditions

Mountain laurel grows best in partial shade, with perhaps a few hours or direct sun in the morning, or in the bright shade of tall trees. The north side of walls, with clear sky overhead, is also very suitable, or the dappled, open shade of wooded areas. It grows best in conditions suitable for rhododendrons and azaleas, although it is less demanding for acid soil than they are. The soil should be moist, well-drained and rich, preferably slightly acidic too, but it will grow well in most good garden soils that are not highly alkaline. Well established, mature plants can tolerate some periods of drought, but good moisture levels are needed for the best results and for plenty of blooms.

Maintenance and Pruning

For growing in pots, use potting soil and fertilizer for acid-loving plants, and make sure the planter has drainage holes. The only maintenance needed is to snip off the spent flower heads, avoiding cutting any leafy stems. Don’t trim, as this will reduce flowering. With its dense form pruning is rarely if ever going to be needed. Pests and diseases are rare, and if given suitable soil and moisture this is a very easy and trouble-free plant to grow.

History and Origin of the Nipmuck Mountain Laurel

The Nipmuck Mountain Laurel is a selected form of the American native plant, Kalmia latifolia. This shrub grows all through the east, from Maine to northern Florida, and west to Indiana and Louisiana. It is the state flower of Connecticut and of Pennsylvania, and it grows on slopes and in forests in many mountainous areas. In the wild it can be 15 feet tall, or rarely even more. Wild plants have white flowers with a few pink markings inside them.

It took the work of Richard Jaynes, a geneticist and plant breeder at the Connecticut Agricultural Experimental Station in New Haven to turn this wild plant into a garden gem. He began breeding and selecting plants in 1961, starting with unique forms collected in the wild. He crossed numerous seedlings, and it was among these that he found, in 1971, an outstanding plant he named ‘Nipmuck’.

Buying the Nipmuck Mountain Laurel at The Tree Center

Difficulties in reproducing mountain laurel in nurseries has been a reason for their lack of availability, but now they are being produced by tissue culture in laboratory greenhouses. This has made them more available, and we love having these great plants to offer you. If you haven’t grown them before, now is your chance. If you have, then the Nipmuck Mountain Laurel will be a wonderful addition to your garden. Either way, be sure to order now, as our limited stock will soon be gone.

The Carol Mountain Laurel is an evergreen shrub, with a dense, branching habit, that will form a round, mounding plant. In time it will grow over 6 feet tall and wide, and often considerably larger, so allow room for its final development. The branches are covered with a reddish, fibrous bark, and older plants developed an attractive, gnarled base, although this plant remains bushy to the ground for many years. The evergreen foliage is thick, leathery, glossy and dark green, and leaves are oval and about 3 inches long. They have a fascinated twisted form, caused by wavy edges along the leaves, giving this plant a lively and unique look. New shoots in spring are reddish, adding a touch of color at that time.

The flower buds of the Carol Mountain Laurel develop very early, over the winter, at the ends of stems grown during the previous year. It is important not to trim this plant, as this will remove the flowers. The buds are at first a reddish shoot, which expands into a very attractive cluster of bright-red balls, with curious fluted sides, by early spring. These clusters are soon over 6 inches across, and they make a lovely display all through spring. More is to come though, because in late May or early June the flowers open, turning that bright red bud into an open cup of the palest blush pink, fading to near-white. The contrast between the pale, inch-wide flowers and the bright red buds is very decorative. The unique flowers have pronounced sides, looking like a tiny, 5-sided cup. You can expect 3 to 4 months of interest and color from this plant, from the developing buds and flowers, which is remarkable.

With its long period of color, and its attractive foliage for the rest of the year, the Carol Mountain Laurel is very suitable for high-profile areas of your garden, such as around your home and in important beds. Its size works well for the middle or back of shrub beds, and it is lovely along a woodland walk too. It grows well in dappled shade, beside water, and on banks and slopes as well.

The Carol Mountain Laurel grows in a wide range of light conditions. In cooler zones it can be grown in full sun if the soil is moist. In warmer areas afternoon shade is excellent. It will also grow in full shade too, if it is bright, especially beneath deciduous trees, which allows the plants more light in winter. It is hardy from zone 5, where it should be protected from harsh winds, all the way into zone 9. It does have some needs for soil, but these are not extreme. It does best in acidic soils, with a pH below 6.0. The soil should be well-drained, so richer sandy soils are ideal, and this plant does not like heavy clay. If you do have acidic clay soil, plant on a raised mound, and incorporate lots of organic material into the soil. Cool, rich soils are ideal, so add materials like rotted leaves, lime-free compost, or peat moss, when planting, and also each spring as mulch. This will conserve moisture too, as although this bush has some drought tolerance when well-established, it always does better with regular watering as needed. Pests or diseases are rare, and no pruning is necessary. Remove the flower heads once blooming is over, as the seed-pods are not very attractive, and removing them early will encourage better flowering the following year.

The mountain laurel, Kalmia latifolia, grows wild across most of the east, from southern Maine all the way through New England and the Carolinas into Florida. It also grows west to Indiana and Louisiana. Wild bushes can grow to 15 feet tall, and even into 30-foot trees. They grow on slopes and in the forests of mountain areas. Gardeners didn’t grow this plant much until a plant breeder at the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station in New Haven took an interest in them. Richard A. Jaynes started breeding mountain laurels in 1961 and he created many wonderful selections and hybrids. In 1967 he crossed together two of his best seedlings, and among them was a very attractive plant. He picked it out as special in 1975, and then grew it for another 10 years, testing it, before introducing it to nurseries in 1986. Called ‘Carol’, this terrific bush is a top favorite, and always a big seller. Order now, while we can still fulfill your order.

Growing Kalmia Tiddlywinks

The Tiddlywinks Mountain Laurel forms a small shrub that grows just 2½ feet tall, spreading no more than 3 feet across. The leaves are between 2 and 3 inches long, and less than an inch wide, with a smooth oval shape. They are leathery and glossy, and rich green all year round. They cluster densely around the stem, giving the plant a neat, solid look. This plant is as attractive as any evergreen foliage shrub – with the great advantage of stunning blooms as well. The flowers begin as red branching stems among the leaves at the ends of the branches, first appearing in winter. They develop into domes of dark pink buds, each one shaped like a 5-sided cone, and they make a colorful display while we wait for the blooms to open. By late May or into June, depending on your region, the flowers begin to open, and they stay looking beautiful for several weeks. Each bloom is almost one inch across, and it is shaped like a 5-sided cup, with prominent stamens in a star pattern in the center. The bloom is soft pink, lighter than the buds, and the combination of buds and open flowers is very, very beautiful indeed. If you are not familiar with the flowers of the mountain laurel, then you are in for a big garden treat.

Use the Tiddlywinks Mountain Laurel in the front of your beds, around your home or out in the garden. Use it as a single plant in small spaces, or plant in groups of 3 or 5, spaced 2 feet apart in each direction, in larger spaces. With its low height it is an excellent edging shrub too, needing no trimming to look neat and perfect all year long. Use it at the corners of small beds, or beside a path. Plant it in woodland areas, and in the dappled shade beneath trees. It is also an excellent choice for planter boxes and pots, and if you don’t have suitable garden conditions for it, growing in pots is the best way to enjoy this lovely plant in your garden.

Plant the Tiddlywinks Mountain Laurel in partial shade, with morning sun and afternoon shade, or in light full shade, such as on the north side of a building or wall, or in the shade of deciduous trees. The deep shade beneath evergreens is too dark for it to do well. The soil should be moist but well-drained, and sandy soil is preferable, as this plant does not grow well in clay soils. Raised beds, and planting on slopes is a good way to grow it if you have heavier types of soil. Good drainage is fundamental to success with this plant. The soil should be acidic, with a pH no higher than 6.0, and ideally between 5.5 and 4.5. Add plenty of lime-free organic material, such as rotted leaves or peat moss, and use the same material to mulch over the roots. In containers use soil blended for acid-loving plants, and the same kind of liquid fertilizer. Keep well-watered but not constantly wet, and make sure your pot or planter has plenty of drainage holes. This plant is generally free of pests or diseases, if the growing conditions are good. Do not prune or trim, as the flowers are formed at the ends of new shoots. Remove the spent flower heads as they fade, as preventing seeding encourages more blooms for the next year. Remove only the flower stems, not the tip of the branch.

History and Origins of Kalmia Tiddlywinks

The mountain laurel, Kalmia latifolia, is found in most of the eastern part of the USA, from southern Maine to northern Florida. Wild plants g row between 5 and 15 feet tall, beneath trees in mountain forests, and on slopes. The wild plant usually has large leaves, up to 5 inches long, and the flowers are pale pink in bud, fading to white once they have opened. There is a lot of variation in form in the wild, and plants with smaller leaves and more compact form are called ‘variety’ or ‘forma’, myrtifolia (‘with leaves like myrtle’). Beginning with plants like that, the plant breeder and geneticist Richard A. Jaynes made many crosses, and raised many seedlings, looking for attractive and colorful dwarf plants for gardens. When he was working at the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station in New Haven, he made crosses in 1978, and one of the resulting seedlings was so attractive he named it ‘Tiddlywinks’ and released it to nursery growers in 1985. This plant is widely held to be the best of the smaller mountain laurel plants, and it is always a popular plant. This means that our limited stock of premium plants will soon be gone, so don’t hesitate, order now, and enjoy this lovely plant in your own garden. 

Growing Raspberry Glow Mountain Laurel

The Raspberry Glow Mountain Laurel is a rounded, evergreen shrub that grows to be about 4 feet tall and 3 to 4 feet across, with leaves to the ground for a long time, eventually developing an attractive gnarly base of twisted stems. The oval evergreen leaves are leathery, glossy and rich green in color, with undulating edges, and an elegant twist to their form. They are 2 to 5 inches long, and when not in flower this is still an attractive evergreen that has real substance and form. The new leafy shoots are a deep purple-red color when they first emerge, adding more seasonal color to this plant.

Characteristics

The flowers appear first as deep red, scaly shoots emerging in winter from among the leaves at the ends of the branches. These develop into rounded domes of many buds, with a unique, pointed, five-sided conical form, which are bright raspberry red and extremely attractive. They last for weeks, before opening into large, one-inch diameter flowers that are formed like five-sided bowls, with prominent and decorative stamens. The flowers are a rich pink, and the mixture of red buds and pink flowers as they gradually open is simply gorgeous. Flowers last for weeks, and this plant has a very long flowering season, beginning in late May or early June, after the first flush of spring flowers is over.

You can grow the Raspberry Glow Mountain Laurel among the foundation plants around your home, or in beds as a mid-sized shrub. With its evergreen foliage it gives good structure even when not blooming. Plant it in wooded areas, beneath shade trees, or on sloping ground. It is also a good plant for boxes and planters, living for many years and blooming well in a pot. This is also the best option if you don’t have the ideal soil for this plant in your garden.

Planting and Initial Care

We suggest this plant as perfect for your first planting of mountain laurel because in scientific trials at the University of Connecticut it grew in adverse landscape situations much better than any other variety in the trial. You can take this as a reliable, proven fact. It will be less subject to foliar burn and leaf-spot problems, and it will tolerate poorer soil better. Nevertheless, it is still a mountain laurel, so the basic requirements still hold. Grow it in partial shade, with morning sun and afternoon shade for the best results, although it will grow in deeper shade without the flower color fading, as it often does in other varieties. The soil should be well-drained, rich and preferably sandy – heavy clay soils are not tolerated well. Planting in raised beds or on slopes will help it grow in heavier soils. The soil should be acidic, with a pH of 6 or less, and ideally between 5.5 and 4.5. Add lime-free organic material like rotted leaves or peat moss to the soil when planting and use more as a mulch to keep the soil cool and moist, especially when exposed to more sun. Pests and diseases are normally not serious if the growing conditions are good. The only care needed is to keep it well-watered during dry weather, and to remove the flower heads as they fade (don’t cut off the tip of the stem, just the flower stalks). This will encourage maximum flowering for the following year.

History and Origins of Raspberry Glow Mountain Laurel

The Raspberry Glow Mountain Laurel is a special form of the mountain laurel, Kalmia latifolia. The wild plant grows across the eastern half of America, from southern Maine and New England all the way to northern Florida. Both Pennsylvania and Connecticut claim it as their state flower. Wild plants are usually between 5 and 15 feet tall, growing beneath trees in mountain forests. The flowers on wild bushes are usually light pink, fading to white. We owe the variety ‘Raspberry Glow’ to the geneticist and plant breeder Richard A. Jaynes, who created many new forms, and helped make this plant popular in gardens. While working at the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station in New Haven he did many crosses between different unique plants of the mountain laurel. In 1974 he made a cross with a variety he had created in 1970, called ‘Pink Charm’. Among the seedlings he selected one with especially bright buds, and rich pink flowers, which he called ‘Raspberry Glow’. After years of trials it was introduced and released to nursery growers in 1984. This variety has become a classic and the #1 recommendation for your first mountain laurel. Our stock is limited, so order now – you won’t regret it when you see those wonderful blooms, even if your garden is not ideal for these plants. 

Growing Olympic Fire Mountain Laurel Shrubs

The Olympic Flame Mountain Laurel is an evergreen shrub with an upright, rounded form. In the garden, it will grow to 4 or 5 feet in height, and perhaps 4 feet wide – in a planter it will be smaller. Even when not in flower the foliage is excellent. The smooth oval leaves are glossy and leathery, between 3 and 5 inches long, and with an attractive wavy edge. The leaves give the plant a nice dense look, and it is attractive every day of the year. Older plants may develop a woody, gnarled base, which only adds to their appeal. 

The flower buds develop in winter, as small red clusters among the leaves at the tips of every branch. As these develop in the spring they become clusters of pointed, deep raspberry-pink buds, which are incredibly attractive in their own right. The flowers open to reveal a five-sided cup-shaped bloom, in a bright light pink. The prominent stamens spread out like a star and make a gorgeous bloom, one inch across. The clusters are densely packed with many flowers, and with every stem topped with blooms the effect is spectacular and very showy. Flowering takes place in late May and early June, just when there are not so many other shrubs in bloom, and it lasts for weeks.

With its neat form and attractive evergreen foliage, the Olympic Flame Mountain Laurel can be used as you would use an evergreen bush like cherry laurel, but with the bonus of wonderful flowers. Around your home in the foundation planting, for structure in your beds, along a path, or beneath shade trees – these are all great places to plant this bush. Add it to shady areas where you grow azaleas or camellias – they all enjoy the same environment and conditions. If you don’t have the necessary acid soil, rather than attempting to change that (which is rarely successful for long), grow this plant in pots, containers and planter boxes. That way you can move it to control the light levels, and to place it in a prominent spot when it is in flower. It will thrive in a planter for at least 5 years, and often longer. Use a pot with drainage holes, and plant in a soil blended for acid-loving plants. Use liquid fertilizer for acid-loving plants regularly, and you can enjoy this gorgeous bush even if you don’t have the best soil for it in your garden.

Grow the Olympic Flame Mountain Laurel in full sun in cooler zones, if there is constant soil moisture. Partial shade is best, with morning sun and afternoon shade, and this bush will also grow in light full shade, beneath trees, in the woodland areas it loves so much. The soil should be acidic, with a pH value below 6, and preferably between 5.5 and 4.5. It should be rich but well-drained, and sandy soils are preferred. Heavy clay is difficult for this plant, but if you add plenty or organic material, and plant in raised beds, or on slopes, then it is still possible to grow it – it is certainly worth a little effort. Mulch in spring or fall with rich, lime-free materials, such as rotted leaves or peat moss, or compost made without lime. This will keep the roots cool and moist, and it is very beneficial. This bush needs no pruning, and it keeps its neat form naturally. The only attention needed is to remove the spent flower heads as they fade. The seed heads are not very attractive and preventing seeding will encourage plenty of buds for the following spring.

History and Origins of Olympic Fire Mountain Laurel Shrubs

The Olympic Fire Mountain Laurel is a unique form of the mountain laurel, Kalmia latifolia. Also called ‘calico flower’ and ‘spoonwood’, this native plant grows naturally across the eastern half of the country, from southern Maine to northern Florida. Found carpeting the forest floor in mountainous regions, or growing on slopes, it is a shrub up to 15 feet tall, and sometimes a tree to 30 feet. For many years it was mostly ignored as a garden plant, until a handful of enthusiasts started breeding and selecting seedlings with special features and richer colors. The variety called ‘Olympic Fire’ was discovered in 1966 by John Eichelser from Olympia, Washington. It was one of a batch of seedlings he grew from a much older variety from 1940, called ‘Ostbo Red’. It was introduced to gardeners in 1978 and it has proved it value as a variety that is always popular and in great demand. We have a limited supply of premium-grade plants, but they will soon be sold to other clients, so order now while we still have stock available.

Growing Kalmia Minuet Mountain Laurel

The Minuet Mountain Laurel is a dwarf shrub with attractive evergreen foliage and a rounded form, growing just 3 feet tall and wide. The leaves are 2 to 3 inches long, oval and tapering, with a leathery texture and glossy surface. They are rich dark green on the top, and a paler, more yellow green on the underside. The evergreen foliage is effective all year round, so even when not in flower this plant is a valuable garden asset, contributing substance and form to your landscaping.

Characteristics

The flower buds of the Minuet Mountain Laurel develop early, showing as small, scaly red clusters on short stems among the leaves all winter. They form on the ends of the shoots of the previous year. As spring comes, they grow and develop, turning into light pink clusters and looking showy and attractive long before they open. Blooms usually open in late May and early June, depending on your climate zone, after the earliest shrubs and flowers have faded. The large clusters contain many individual flowers, and they are 6 inches across, at the ends of every stem, making a spectacular blooming effect. Blooms last a long time, and this shrub is effective for several weeks. The individual flowers are one inch across, shaped like a cup with 5 sides. They are white, with a prominent red band around the rim, edged in white, and delicate red marking at the base of the cup. The effect of all the blooms is wonderful, and it really is like they are dancing a stately minuet in full skirts, across the plant.

The Minuet Mountain Laurel is a wonderful plant for almost any garden situation. Because it is beautiful in bloom, and attractive even when simply leaves, it can be planted in high-profile beds, such as around your home, or along pathways. Plant single bushes in smaller beds, groups of 3, 5 or 7 in larger ones, or plant it all along the front of a bed as a beautiful edging. Grow it in woodland areas, under trees, by water or on banks and slopes. This plant has a fibrous root system, and it grows well for many years in planters and pots. This is an excellent way to grow it if you don’t have the right soil conditions

Planting and Initial Care

The Minuet Mountain Laurel grows in a wide range of light conditions, from full sun in cooler zones on damp soil, to partial shade, and in light full shade too, such as beneath large deciduous trees. Morning sun and afternoon shade is ideal for it, especially in warmer zones. It is hardy across most of the country, from zone 5 to zone 9. This plant does have some needs for soil. The ideal soil is acidic, with a pH below 6, and it grows well in very acidic soils too. Sandy soils are best, because it enjoys moisture, but good drainage too. Heavy clay soils are not very suitable, although if you plant on slopes or in raised beds, that will give better drainage in heavy soils. The soil should be cool and rich, so incorporate lots of acidic materials, like rotted leaves, peat moss, or lime-free compost into the soil, and use similar materials as mulch to cool the soil and keep it moist. If grown in sun the soil should be kept cool and moist with mulch and regular watering. Established plants have some limited drought tolerance, but they should not be left dry for long. 

If you don’t have these conditions, don’t worry, because this plant is ideal for growing in containers, and with its compact size it will thrive for years. Use pots with drainage holes and fill them with potting soil blended for acid-loving plants like azaleas, camellias and hydrangeas. Fertilize regularly with liquid fertilizer for acid-loving plants.

The Minuet Mountain Laurel needs very little care once the light and soil conditions are satisfied. Pests and diseases are rare, and no pruning is required. Since the seed pods are not very attractive, it is best to remove the flower clusters once they have faded, and this also encourages maximum flowering for the next year – nothing else is needed.

History and Origins of Kalmia Minuet Mountain Laurel Shrubs

The Minuet Mountain Laurel is a special form of the mountain laurel, Kalmia latifolia. This plant is native to a large area of eastern America, growing all the way from southern Maine through New England to northern Florida, and west as far as Indiana and Louisiana. It is the state flower of both Pennsylvania and Connecticut. Wild plants grow on slopes and across the forest floor in mountainous areas. It is normally a shrub 5 to 15 feet tall, and more rarely a tree to 30 feet. The flowers are white with small red markings inside them. This plant was rarely grown in gardens before the geneticist and plant breeder Richard A. Jaynes took an interest in it. First at the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station in New Haven from 1961, and then from 1984 at his nursery, the Broken Arrow Nursery in Hamden, Connecticut, he produced many wonderful plants. The one called ‘Minuet’ is his best dwarf form, which he began developing in 1978 and introduced in 1988. It is considered an outstanding variety and always in high demand. We have a good supply of top-quality plants, but the demand is strong, so order now while our stocks last – they will soon be gone.