Re: Kalmia

In a message dated 12/20/00 12:24:30 PM Eastern Standard Time, Shishi@AOL.COM
writes:

<< they "pop' back on old wood real well, so they can be cut back, AND
COLLECTED
 AS "STUMPS" IF NEED BE >>

Harry,

I think you would have luck with this in your longer growing season and we
would not be able to see such regrowth.  How I would like to live in frost
free region for just a little while.

There may be some northern and southern variation.  Also there might be, as
dogwoods, a difference in nothern grown seed and southern grown seed.  There
is a botanical explanation for this, something about cells withstanding more
cold.  It is a bit complicated.

We are at the very edge of  the normal range for kalmia, mine are
transplanted here.  They are certainly hardy but not as glorious as the
plants in PA or CT.  Every other year we have an explosion of deep pink that
lasts for weeks.  Sometimes people stop and ask "what is that shrub". So,
there may be some need to have a northern grown plant in a marginal area.
Since most of the named forms are grown from tissue culture, this might be
why they fail.

Rich Horowitz is correct with his reference to Jaynes book on Kalmia, the
only one I think.  I don't have that book but it is around in the stores.
Dr. Jaynes is the originator of most of the newest forms.  He is with the U.
of CT.

Claire Peplowski
NYS z4
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