Scientific Name:
Kalmia latifolia
Pronunciation:
KAL-mee-uh lat-ih-FOE-lee-uh
Common Name:
mountain laurel
Family Name:
Ericaceae
Plant Type:
Broadleaf evergreen
Key ID Features:
Leaves alternate (may appear opposite or whorled near shoot tips), most blades elliptic, 7-10cm long x 2-4cm wide, glabrous, leathery, glossy, margin entire, petiole 1-2cm long, often reddish; corymb-like cymes at stem tips, each with 15-40 cup-shaped florets, 2-2.5cm wide, 5-sided with 10 anthers neatly arranged in corolla pockets, commonly pink (some white-red) with purple spots, May-Jun.
Habit:
Spreading
Form:
Oval - horizontal, Round
Texture:
Medium
Mature Height:
2 - 3m
Mature Spread:
4 - 5m
Growth Rate:
Moderate
Origin:
Canada - eastern, U.S. - northeast, U.S. - southeast
Hardiness Rating:
Zone 5: (-29 to -23 °C)
Exposure:
Part sun/part shade, Filtered shade
Soil/Growing Medium:
Acidic, Well-drained
Water Use:
Moderate
Landscape Uses:
Cut flower or foliage, Mixed shrub border, Woodland margin (Caution: poisonous parts)
Additional Info:
Leaf Morphology:
Form:
Simple
Arrangement:
Alternate
Texture/Venation:
Leathery, Pinnate venation
Surfaces:
Glabrous, Lustrous
Colour in Summer:
Dark-green, New growth light green
Colour in Fall:
Dark-green
Shapes:
Elliptic
Apices:
Acute
Bases:
Attenuate
Margins:
Entire
Inflorescence Type:
Cyme, Corymb-like
Flower Morphology:
Flowers perfect
Number Of Petals:
5
Corolla Shape:
Campanulate
Ovary Position:
Inferior
Colour (petals):
Showy, White, Pink, Red
Flower Scent:
Sweet
Flower Time at Peak:
May, Jun
Fruit Type:
Capsule
Fruit Colour:
Brown
Fruiting Time:
Sep, Oct
Additional Info:
Not showy, Rounded, 4-6 mm wide with 5 valves
Bark Morphology:
Exfoliating
Bark or Stem Colour:
Dark Grey, Brown
Leaf Bud Type:
Ovoid
Leaf Scar Shape:
Round
Organ Modifications:
Ectomycorrhizae
Propagation:
Seed, Greenwood cuttings, Layering
Maintenance:
Low
Pest Susceptibility:
Beetles or weevils, Fungal leaf spot, Galls, Scale insects
Course(s):
- CLT Training
- HORT 2355
- Level 3 Apprenticeship
Location(s):
- (BUG) BUG garden
- (ONW) Overpass North side West : cv. Bullseye
- (SGL) Sendell Gardens, Langley