Kalmia latifolia Ewa - Mountain Laurel

Kalmia latifolia Ewa, also known as Mountain Laurel, is a robust, remarkably floriferous heathland shrub. This cultivar can reach a height of 1.30m (4 ft 4 in) in ten years. At the end of spring, it is covered with countless pale pink buds veined with dark red, which look like small meringues.  These bloom into rather large, pale pink and white corollas. It is a beautiful bush, with evergreen, elegant, bright green and satin leaves.

Kalmia latifolia, native to the mountains of eastern North America, and also known as Mountain Laurel or American Laurel, belongs to the Ericaceae family, like Heather and Rhododendron. This broad-leaved Kalmia Ewa is a large, evergreen shrub, reaching 1.30 meters (4 feet 4 inches) in height and 1 meter (3 feet 4 inches) in width, and has a slow growth. Its well-branched trunk gives it a bushy, somewhat erect habit. Its evergreen, medium green satin foliage, with a lighter underside, is made up of small, tough and thick leaves, alternate and lanceolate, carried on reddish branches. The plant is at its peak in early summer, during its very spectacular flowering! Indeed, in May-June, it is entirely covered with waxy-textured flowers. Each branch carries terminal clusters (corymbs) with up to 180 small predominantly pink flowers, shaped like campanulate corollas with 5 sides, 3 to 3.5 cm (1.2 to 1.4 in) in diameter, pale pink veined with red. Each flower carries 10 purple stamens housed in the petals. The flowers do not all bloom at once, the corymbs present amazing contrasts between the unopen veined floral buds and the already bloomed flowers. After flowering, if they have not fallen, the flowers give way to fruits shaped like brown capsules, which last all winter.

Kalmias are unjustly unknown. Their flowering is enchanting, they are particularly hardy heathland bushes that must be planted in semi-shade, in a moist and humus-rich soil. Undoubtedly unique, very decorative and too little widespread, Kalmia Ewa will be wonderful in the garden, where it will beautifully enhance all the surrounding plants! There are many varied uses for this plant in the garden. It will be the ideal companion for heathland plants (Rhododendrons, Azaleas, Camellias, Heathers, Hydrangeas, Japanese Maples, Magnolias, Andromedas, Cyclamen...). It will work wonders in an informal hedge, in mixed shrub planting, mixed into a perennial bed, around a pond, or even planted as a specimen. Due to its slow growth, it is perfectly suitable for pots on balconies or patios, provided the soil is kept constantly moist.

Properties:

Kalmia latifolia is a shrub which is entirely toxic to humans as well as for animals (dogs, cats, sheep, horses) when eaten, including its leaves, flowers, fruits and roots.

However, it is used in homeopathy for pain relief. In the past, its very hard wood was used to make many tools, including wooden spoons, hence its English nickname of Spoonwood.

Anecdote:

The genus name Kalmia, was chosen by Carl von Linne, in tribute to Pehr Kalm, a famous Swedish botanist, who was one of the first to explore the flora in certain parts of North America from 1747 to 1751.

The flower of Kalmia latifolia is the emblem of the states of Connecticut and Pennsylvania.