This is a public-interest archive. Personal data is pseudonymized and retained under GDPR Article 89.

Re: [SG] kalmia latifolia

In a message dated 6/1/98 11:47:57 AM Eastern Daylight Time, sue@INFOZOO.COM
writes:

<<
 According to the Sunset National Garden Book, none of them are hardy in
 areas that cold.

 Does anyone have any other information?

 Sue L.
 zone 4a MN >>

Sue,

I live in zone 4, high altitude on a windy mountainside.  I have several
mountain laurels, one is more than fifty years old.

First select one in bloom if not a named cultivar.  Some species can be off
white and not as attractive as the pinks.  The first year or two is important
in establishing mtn.laurel.  Water and winter protection is necessary.  Once
well rooted they are hardy and need no extra care.  Mtn. laurels bloom heavily
in alternate years.  The zone 4 season is too short to mature seeds in time
for flower buds to follow so the every other year bloom occurs.

The species grown from seed would probably be best and better,  if as redbuds,
the seed was northern.  My very old plant grows in the open on a slope on or
aside a huge submerged rock.  It never loses leaves to the cold and blooms
gloriously, a lovely shade of pink.  Several smaller new ones are very slow to
start in zone 4 but are holding on and one is now growing.  They can have full
sun in my garden.  For this reason buy a larger plant if possible and protect
from deer.  Remember kalmia is an acid soil plant.

Claire Peplowski
East Nassau, NY  (where the power is back after three days - elec. storms plus
tornados where they have not been before!) Zone 4
Other Mailing lists | Author Index | Date Index | Subject Index | Thread Index