Kalmia latifolia Pinkobello - Mountain Laurel

Kalmia latifolia Pinkobello, also known as Mountain Laurel, is a delightful shrub of heathland soil, with a light and bushy habit, and evergreen foliage. In May-June, it covers itself with an abundance of clusters of flowers which are both vibrant and very cheerful.  These are composed of bright and vivid pink bells, illuminated with a pale pink heart outlined by a redder circle. Its dark, shiny, and tough foliage highlights the flowering, covering the reddish branches with elegant, neat vegetation.

Kalmia latifolia, native to the mountains of eastern North America, and also called Mountain Laurel or American Laurel, belongs to the Ericaceae family, like Heather and Rhododendron. This Pinkobello broad-leaved Kalmia is an evergreen shrub of modest dimensions, not exceeding 1 meter (3 feet 4 inches) in all directions, and with has slow growth. Its small branching trunk gives it a bushy, somewhat loose habit. Its evergreen shiny green foliage, with a lighter underside, is composed of small, tough, and thick leaves, alternate and lanceolate, thus ensuring a very decorative interest all year round. This plant is most spectacular at the end of spring, in May-June, when it is entirely covered with flowers.  Each branch carries clusters (corymbs) of up to 50 small predominantly pink flowers in the shape of 5-sided, campanulate corollas, 2 to 2.5 cm (0.8 to 1 in) in diameter, bright pink with a little raspberry and illuminated by a pale pink heart circled in red. Each flower carries 10 purple stamens attached to the petals. The flowers do not all appear at the same time. The corymbs have astonishing contrasts between the unopen floral buds and the flowers already in bloom. After flowering, if they have not fallen, the flowers give way to brown capsule fruits which can last all winter.

Kalmias are unjustly unknown. Their flowering is enchanting, they are particularly hardy shrubs of heathland soil that should be planted in semi-shade, in a moist, humus-rich soil. Certainly original, very decorative and compact, Kalmia Pinkobello will be wonderful planted in the garden, where it will beautifully highlight all the plants surrounding it!  It will be perfect to accompany and highlight your other ericaceous plants (Rhododendrons, Azaleas, Camellias, Heathers, Hydrangeas, Japanese Maples, Magnolias, Andromedas, Cyclamens...). It will be wonderful within an informal hedge, mixed shrub planting, added to 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 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 for the making of many tools, notably 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 certain parts of North America from 1747 to 1751.