Re: Kalmia

In a message dated 12/19/00 2:46:48 AM Eastern Standard Time, mtalt@CLARK.NET
writes:

<< Your comment about Kalmias is most interesting.  Mine get only the
 odd ray about mid day and that is lessening as time passes.  Might
 need to think about moving those guys one of these days.  Have not
 seen these in the wild except once years ago. >>

I have several mountain laurels growing on my mountainside, zone 4.  Since
the garden is entirely sloped, no flat land, there is good to sharp drainage
everywhere.  One of our laurels is the true species, many years old, growing
in the full sun on or adjacent to a large submerged rock.  For us there are
flowers every other due to the shortness of the season. This plant is
healthy. about 6/7 feet tall with a barked over main stem of about ten inches
in diameter.  Due to the sort season it never sets seed.

Newer plants are not so easy.  I have lost about half of what I tried giving
them semi-shade.  I have come to the point where I do not know what a kalmia
wants to grow well.  Since the old one lives on at the edge of a field with
no help from me, hence little water, I would have to say water is not
critical.  Two new ones, selections I think, have done well in morning sun,
afternoon shade plus a mulch of rocks.  There are also large rocks planted in
the hole with the root ball at the suggestion of a local nurseryman who grows
on tissue cultured kalmia.  Again, soil pH is a factor.  Kalmia grows well in
the East where soils tend to be acid.

There are banks of kalmia in bloom on the roadsides of Connecticut in late
May.  They are a day's drive to appreciate.  After seeing the native plants
in bloom, one surely wants a few.  After trying a number of seed grown plants
I would mention that kalmia that is not tissue cultured or cutting grown can
have a washed out light pink color that is not attractive.  Best to buy one
with a name and be sure.

Claire Peplowski
NYS z4
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