Kalmia latifolia Peppermint - Mountain Laurel

Kalmia latifolia Peppermint, also known as Mountain Laurel, is a large, dense, evergreen bush with a somewhat rounded and heavily branched habit. It stands out for its abundant flowers which have fresh and spicy perfume like a good English mint sweet. The flowers, grouped in large corymbs, evoke clusters of pale pink seashells, marked by radiating bands and red spots. It is also attractive for its pointed and evergreen foliage that is has coppery bronze tones in spring. This shrub requires a rich and very acidic soil to look its best.

Kalmia latifolia, native to the mountains of eastern North America, and also named Mountain Laurel or American Laurel, belongs to the Ericaceae family, like Heather and Rhododendron. This broad-leaved Peppermint Kalmia is a vigorous evergreen bush, reaching 1.5 meters (4 feet 11 inches) in all directions, and is slow growing. The adult size is reached in ten years, its longevity exceeds 50 years. Its well-branched trunk, gives it a bushy, thick and somewhat erect habit. Its evergreen foliage is bronze in spring, and then becomes shiny and dark green. It is composed of small glossy pointed leaves, tough and thick, alternate and lanceolate.  These are very decorative and provide all year round interest. The plant looks its best in early summer, due to its very spectacular flowering. In May-June, it is completely covered with flowers with unique markings. Each branch carries clusters (corymbs) of small pinkish white flowers, in the form of 5-sided, very flared, campanulate corollas, 2 to 2.5 cm (0.8 to 1 in) in diameter.  The centre of the flower is patterned with fine dark red lines radiating out to the edge of the petals with spots of the same colour. Each flower carries 10 purple stamens within the petals. The flowers do not bloom all at once.  The corymbs present amazing contrasts between the not yet bloomed floral buds which are very veined and surprisingly architectural, and the already opened pale pink flowers. After flowering, if they have not fallen, the flowers give way to brown capsule fruits that last throughout winter. Its has unusual grey and grooved bark.

Kalmias are unjustly unknown. Their flowering is enchanting, they are particularly hardy heathland shrubs that should be planted in semi-shade, in a moist and humus-rich soil.  Unique, very decorative and rare, Kalmia Peppermint will work beautifully in the garden, where it will highlight all the surrounding plants!  There are many ways of using 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 well in an informal hedge, in mixed shrub planting, added to a perennial bed, around a pond or even as a specimen plant.  Its small size also means that it works well in containers on balconies or patios, provided the soil is always kept 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 utility objects, including wooden spoons, hence its English nickname of Spoonwood.

Anecdote:

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

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