Kalmia latifolia Pinwheel - Mountain Laurel

Kalmia latifolia ‘Pinwheel’, also known as Mountain Laurel, is a charming evergreen bush of heathlands, with a bushy and light habit. In May-June, it is adorned with a multitude of clusters of flowers which are pale pink in colour with a crimson red heart and surrounded by a white border. Its pretty pinkish-white floral buds add to its natural charm when planted as a specimen or grouped with heathland loving plants like rhododendrons. 

Kalmia latifolia, originating from the mountains of East North America, and also named Mountain Laurel or American Laurel, belongs to the Ericaceae family, like Heather and Rhododendron. Kalmia latifolia ‘Pinwheel’, with its dark green slightly glossy leaves, is a slow growing shrub not exceeding 2 metres (6 feet 7 inches) in height and 1.5 m (4 ft 11 in) in width. Its small branching trunk gives it a bushy, dense and rather upright habit. Its shiny green, evergreen foliage with a lighter underside, is formed of small tough and thick leaves, alternate and lanceolate, providing decorative interest all year round. It becomes a feature plant in May-June, due to its very spectacular flowers! It is entirely covered with bowl-shaped flowers with a waxy texture. Each branch carries terminal clusters (corymbs) each with up to 50 small flowers which are predominantly pink.  These are in the form of 5-sided, campanulate corollas, 2 to 2.5 cm (0.8 to 1 in) in diameter, pale pink and illuminated by a dark red heart edgedin white. Each flower carries 10 white stamens. The flowers do not bloom all at once but appear in succession.  The corymbs present astonishing contrasts between the not yet bloomed, veined and pinkish white floral buds, and the already bloomed flowers. After flowering, if they have not fallen, the flowers give way to brown fruits which last through the winter.

Kalmias deserve a place in the garden. Their flowers are enchanting.  They are particularly hardy heathland bushes that should be positioned in semi-shade, in a moist and humus-rich soil. Certainly unique and very decorative, Kalmia ‘Pinwheel’ will look beautiful in the garden where it will standout against all the surrounding plants!  It will be the ideal companion of heathland plants (Rhododendrons, Azaleas, Camellias, Heathers, Hydrangeas, Japanese Maples, Magnolias, Andromedas, Cyclamens…). It will work perfectly within an informal hedge, within mixed shrub planting, amongst perennial planting, around a pond, or even as a specimen plant.  Due to its slow growth, it is perfectly suited to be grown in a pot on balconies or patios, provided that the soil is always kept moist.

Properties:

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

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

Anecdote:

The denomination of the Kalmia genus was chosen by Carl von Linne, in homage to the famous Swedish botanist Pehr Kalm, who was one of the first to explore the flora in certain parts of North America from 1747 to 1751. Kalmia latifolia ‘Pinwheel’ was selected in 1982 by Richard A. Jaynes and introduced in 1987.