Kalmia latifolia Hearts Desire - Mountain Laurel

Kalmia latifolia Heart's Desire, also known as Mountain Laurel, is a delightful heathland shrub with a dwarf, bushy and broad habit, with evergreen leaves. In May-June, it is adorned with a multitude of flower clusters.  Its unbridled flowering is both vivid and contrasting consisting of red-cinnamon bells, marked with white in the centre as well as on the margin of the petals. Its dark, shiny and tough foliage tempers this riot of colours, covering the plant with elegant, well-ordered vegetation. Pure enchantment!

The 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.  Kalmia Heart's Desire with its broad leaves is a dwarf and evergreen shrub of modest dimensions, not exceeding 1 meter (3 feet 4 inches) in all directions, and of slow growth. Its well branched trunk, gives it a bushy, compact and spreading habit. Its shiny dark green, evergreen foliage, with a lighter underside, is made up of small, varnished, tough and thick leaves, alternate and lanceolate (like those of Rhododendrons or Laurels), thus guaranteeing a very decorative interest all year round. The plant's display is at its peak in early summer, during its very spectacular flowering! In May-June, it is entirely covered with very vividly contrasting flowers. Each branch carries terminal clusters (corymbs) of small white flowers, in the form of 5-sided campanulate corollas, very flared, from 2 to 2.5 cm (0.8 to 1 in) in diameter, adorned, inside, with a wide cinnamon-red crown, and bearing 10 stamens housed in the petals. The flowers do not all bloom together, the corymbs present astonishing contrasts between the unopened floral buds, and the already blooming flowers. After flowering, if they have not fallen, the flowers give way to fruits in the form of brown capsules, which last all winter.

Kalmias are unfairly unknown. Their flowering is enchanting, they are particularly hardy heathland shrubs that must be planted in semi-shade, in a moist and humus-rich soil. Certainly original, very decorative and too little widespread, the Kalmia Heart's Desire will work wonders in the garden, where it will beautifully highlight all the surrounding plants!  It can be used in many ways. It will be the ideal companion for ericaceous plants (Rhododendrons, Azaleas, Camellias, Heathers, Hydrangeas, Japanese Maples, Magnolias, Andromedas, Cyclamens...). 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 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.

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 denomination of the Kalmia genus, was chosen by Carl von Linnaeus, 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.