Kalmia angustifolia Rubra - Sheep Laurel
Kalmia angustifolia Rubra - Sheep Laurel
Kalmia angustifolia Rubra - Sheep Laurel
Kalmia angustifolia Rubra - Sheep Laurel
Kalmia angustifolia Rubra - Sheep Laurel
Kalmia angustifolia Rubra - Sheep Laurel
Kalmia angustifolia Rubra
Sheep Laurel, Lambkill, Wicky
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This plant carries a 24 months recovery warranty
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We guarantee the quality of our plants for a full growing cycle, and will replace at our expense any plant that fails to recover under normal climatic and planting conditions.
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Description
The Kalmia latifolia 'Rubra' is a charming variety of bush laurel, compact, bushy, and very floriferous, with an intense colour. Its large slightly incurved corollas, grouped in terminal clusters, display a dark pink hue with bluish reflections, blending with the geometrically shaped pink floral buds. Of modest size, this bush easily finds its place in a large pot or in a small garden. It is cultivated similarly to rhododendron, in partial shade, in heather soil, always kept slightly moist.
The Kalmia latifolia 'Rubra' belongs to the Ericaceae family, like Heather and Rhododendron. This slow-growing bush reaches about 80 cm in height and 1 m in spread by the age of 10. Its well-branched trunk gives it a bushy, compact, and somewhat erect habit, generally becoming a little wider than tall with age. Its evergreen foliage in winter, medium green with a lighter underside, ensures decorative interest all year round. The leaves are tough and thick with a slightly V-shaped form. The show is at its peak in late spring, in June-July, when it is covered with its unique flowers. Their waxy texture brings out the original patterns drawn on the petals. Each branch bears terminal clusters with an abundance of ribbed pink buds opening into dark pink flowers with bluish reflections. They are very wide, becoming almost flat at maturity and measuring up to 5 cm in diameter. After flowering, if they have not fallen, the flowers give way to brown capsule-shaped fruits, persistent in winter.
Kalmias, unfairly overlooked, offer an enchanted flowering. These hardy heather soil bushes flourish in partial shade in moist to wet soil rich in humus. The 'Rubra' Kalmia is ideal for enhancing your other heather soil plants, such as Hydrangeas, Japanese maples, camellias, or even rhododendrons. Thanks to its compact growth, it is also suitable for container cultivation on balconies or terraces, provided the soil is kept consistently moist and non-calcareous water is used for watering.
Kalmia latifolia is a bush whose all parts (leaves, flowers, fruits, roots) are toxic, to humans as well as animals (dogs, cats, sheep, horses), in case of ingestion.
Kalmia angustifolia Rubra - Sheep Laurel in pictures
Plant habit
Flowering
Foliage
Planting and care
The Kalmia latifolia 'Rubra' is extremely hardy and can withstand very low temperatures, down to -20°C. It should be placed in a semi-shaded position, in a humus-bearing and fertile, acidic (no limestone), moist (even damp) soil. For planting, avoid periods of frost or extreme heat, but rather favour those of spring or autumn rains, which will facilitate its establishment. Plan for a wide and deep pit (50 cm by 50 cm) so that your Kalmia can settle in permanently. If the soil is limestone, it will be necessary to replace it entirely with a mixture of heather soil, leaf compost and turf in a large planting pit. Regular watering (with rainwater if possible) in the first weeks following planting is necessary to keep the soil moist and fresh. A mulch of bark chips at the base can be beneficial to protect the fine and surface roots.
Every spring, loosen the soil around the base and surface with a mix of compost, heather soil and mulch. Mountain laurel dreads scorching situations and heatwaves. It must be placed in such a way that it is shaded during the hottest hours of the day. During the summer and especially in case of drought, ensure regular watering (preferably with rainwater). This summer watering is particularly important as floral buds form for the following spring. Loving coolness and good humidity, mountain laurel will thrive in an oceanic or rainy climate. With its small growth, it is well suited for container cultivation on a terrace or balcony. The risks of soil drying out are higher in container cultivation, so a large container and increased monitoring of watering will be essential.
Planting period
Intended location
Care
Planting & care advice
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Hardiness is the lowest winter temperature a plant can endure without suffering serious damage or even dying. However, hardiness is affected by location (a sheltered area, such as a patio), protection (winter cover) and soil type (hardiness is improved by well-drained soil).
In temperate climates, pruning of spring-flowering shrubs (forsythia, spireas, etc.) should be done just after flowering.
Pruning of summer-flowering shrubs (Indian Lilac, Perovskia, etc.) can be done in winter or spring.
In cold regions as well as with frost-sensitive plants, avoid pruning too early when severe frosts may still occur.
The harvesting period indicated on our website applies to countries and regions in USDA zone 8 (France, England, Ireland, the Netherlands).
In colder areas (Scandinavia, Poland, Austria...) fruit and vegetable harvests are likely to be delayed by 3-4 weeks.
In warmer areas (Italy, Spain, Greece, etc.), harvesting will probably take place earlier, depending on weather conditions.
The sowing periods indicated on our website apply to countries and regions within USDA Zone 8 (France, UK, Ireland, Netherlands).
In colder areas (Scandinavia, Poland, Austria...), delay any outdoor sowing by 3-4 weeks, or sow under glass.
In warmer climes (Italy, Spain, Greece, etc.), bring outdoor sowing forward by a few weeks.
The planting period indicated on our website applies to regions in USDA Zone 9a (East Coast and Midlands: Dublin, Wexford, Waterford, Kilkenny, Portlaoise). It will vary depending on where you live:
- On the west coast and in the north-west (Galway, Limerick, Sligo, Donegal, Westport), delay planting by 1 to 2 weeks in spring and bring it forward by 1 to 2 weeks in autumn compared to the dates given, preferably choosing periods without strong winds.
- In the inland hills and plateaus (Wicklow Mountains, Macgillycuddy’s Reeks, Connemara, Killarney), it is best to plant in spring (April–May) or autumn (September–October), avoiding periods of waterlogged soil in winter and strong winds, which pose the main risk to newly planted trees in these areas.
The flowering period indicated on our website applies to regions in USDA Zone 9a, such as the East Coast and Midlands, including Dublin, Wexford, Waterford, Kilkenny and Portlaoise.
This will vary depending on where you live:
- On the west coast and in the northwest (Galway, Limerick, Sligo, Donegal and Westport), it will be delayed by one to two weeks compared to the given dates, due to stronger Atlantic winds and less spring sunshine.
- In the inland hills and plateaus (the Wicklow Mountains, the Macgillycuddy's Reeks, Connemara and Killarney), flowering will be delayed by two to three weeks. Flowering mainly occurs between May and July, with the limiting factors being less frost and more of the excessive humidity, strong winds and lack of sunshine that are characteristic of these areas.
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