Kalmia latifolia Windrose - Mountain Laurel

Kalmia latifolia 'Windrose', is a small mountain laurel, whose open flower evokes a compass star. It is covered in the spring with an abundant flowering of white campanulate corollas splashed with purple-brown dots, whose effect from a distance is singular and interesting. The flower irresistibly attracts the eye. This heathland shrub offers evergreen foliage, matte green, which allows it to remain ornamental all year round.

Kalmia latifolia is also called Mountain Laurel or American Laurel, it belongs to the ericaceae family, like Heather and Rhododendron. 'Windrose' is a fairly compact variety reaching 1 m (3 ft 4 in) in height and width, its growth is slow. Its well-branched trunk gives it a bushy, erect habit. Its evergreen, dark matte green foliage guarantees very decorative interest all year round. The leaves are quite thick and tough. The plant's display is at its peak in May-June, when it is completely covered with its flowers with particularly unique patterning. Each branch carries terminal clusters of small white flowers, bell-shaped with 5 sides, very flared, 2 to 2.5 cm (0.8 to 1 in) in diameter. The inside of the white flower is adorned with about ten dark purple to brown spots. The stamens are housed within the petals. The flowers do not all blossom simultaneously.  They present amazing contrasts between the unopened, veined floral buds and the flowers already bloomed. After flowering, if they have not fallen, the flowers give way to fruits shaped like brown capsules, which last all winter.

Kalmias are unjustly unknown. Their flowering is enchanting.  They are heathland shrubs and particularly hardy.  They must be planted in partial shade, in wet and humus-rich soil. Certainly unique and uncommon, Kalmia Windrose will work beautifully in the garden, where it will highlight all the plants surrounding it. It will be the ideal companion of heathland plants like Rhododendrons, Azaleas, Camellias for example. It will do work well within an informal hedge, in a group of mixed shrubs, added to a perennial bed, or around a pond.

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.