Kalmia latifolia Keepsake - Mountain Laurel
Kalmia latifolia Keepsake - Mountain Laurel
Kalmia latifolia Keepsake
Mountain Laurel, Calico Bush, Spoonwood, American Mountain Laurel, Broad-leaved Kalmia
Very beautiful plant, well established and producing a very nice shoot!
michele C, 21/09/2024
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This plant carries a 24 months recovery warranty
More information
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
Kalmia latifolia 'Keepsake', is a charming evergreen shrub of heathland soil commonly known as mountain laurel. With a lovely bushy and dense habit, this selection offers magnificent clusters of flowers in late spring with a red wine colour edged with white. They mix with intense raspberry red floral buds, perfectly highlighted by beautiful shiny leaves. Very hardy, this kalmia only thrives in acidic, rich and well-drained soils. It will bring a beautiful touch of drama to traditional ericaceous beds.
Kalmia latifolia Keepsake belongs to the Ericaceae family, like heathers and rhododendrons. Its ancestor, called mountain laurel or American laurel, as its name suggests, is endemic to the mountains of eastern North America. 'Keepsake' is moderate in size, not exceeding 1.50 m (4 ft 11 in) in height for 1.25 m (4 ft 1 in) in width. Its growth is quite slow. Its well-branched trunk gives it a bushy, compact and somewhat erect habit. Its foliage is made up of small bright green lanceolate leaves , varnished, tough and thick, and decorative all year round. Evergreen in winter. The plant's display is at its peak during the flowering period which lasts about 4 weeks in May-June. Each branch carries terminal clusters of small flowers 2 to 2.5 cm (0.8 to 1 in) in diameter. Not all flowers open at the same time, they provide an astonishing contrast between the unopened floral buds and the small bells already bloomed. After flowering, if they have not fallen, the flowers give way to fruits in the form of brown capsules, which last all winter.
The shape and very rich colour of the flowers of Kalmia latifolia 'Keepsake' look like pretty little English porcelain cups placed on a green setting, what elegance!
Kalmias are particularly hardy ericacous plants which are unfairly unknown. In the right conditions, they bloom abundantly, require little maintenance and thrive. Attractive all year round, Kalmia 'Keepsake' will suit a semi-shaded spot in the garden, where it will beautifully highlight all its neighbours. It will be the ideal companion for all the other ericaceous plants. It will work well in a small flowering hedge, in a group of mixed shrubs or added into a perennial bed. Due to its small size, 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.
Kalmia latifolia Keepsake - Mountain Laurel in pictures
Plant habit
Flowering
Foliage
Planting and care
Kalmia latifolia 'Keepsake' is extremely hardy and can withstand very low temperatures, below -20 °C. It needs to be planted in a semi-shaded position, in a humus-rich and fertile soil, acidic, moist but well-drained. Plant in spring or autumn, avoiding periods of frost or high heat. Prepare a wide and deep pit, 40 cm (15.7 in) by 40 cm (15.7 in) so that your Kalmia can quickly establish itself. Regular watering in the first few weeks after planting is necessary to keep the soil moist. A mulch at the base of the plant can be beneficial to protect the thin and superficial roots. Each spring, scratch the soil around the base of the plant and top with compost, ericaceous soil and mulch. If the soil is calcareous, it will need to be completely replaced by a mix of ericaceous soil and leaf compost in a large planting pit. The mountain laurel dislikes scorching situations and sweltering summers. It must be placed in such a way that it is shaded during the hottest hours of the day. The mountain laurel dislikes exposure to strong sunlight, especially in case of drought, and ensure regular watering (preferably with rainwater). This summer watering is particularly important since this is when the flower buds form for the following spring. The mountain laurel, liking coolness and good humidity, will thrive in coastal or rainy climates. With its slow growth, it is well suited to pots on a patio or balcony but use a large pot and water well to avoid the soil from drying out. Apart from removing faded flowers, pruning of Kalmia latifolia is hardly necessary. Indeed, it risks damaging the flowers for the following year, as the flower buds form at the ends of the branches. However, it is possible to remove dead wood and carry out a very slight refreshment to maintain a balanced habit.
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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