Broadleaf Kalmia

2024 Author: Gavin MacAdam | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 13:38

Broad-leaved Kalmia (lat. Kalmia latifolia) - an evergreen plant from the genus Kalmia, belonging to the Heather family (Latin Ericaceae). It is represented in nature by a shrub with numerous gnarled trunks, or small trees. The plant's stems are adorned with broad, glossy leaves year-round, and spring adds a vibrant bloom lasting several weeks.

What's in your name

Although for the first time Kalmia broadleaf appeared before the gaze of European sailors who "discovered" America, back in 1624, the plant received its Latin name only in the 18th century, when the Swedish botanist, Carl Linnaeus, began to arrange all the plants on the classification shelves. Then a whole genus of plants got the name "Kalmia", in which the name of one of the students of Carl Linnaeus - Per Kalm, who was engaged in the "domestication" of exotic American plants in the lands of Northern Europe, was immortalized.

Without unnecessary explanations, the specific name of the plant is understandable - "latifolia" (broad-leaved), which distinguishes this species of the genus from narrow-leaved, multi-leaved, box-leaved …

The plant has many popular names, for example, "Mountain Laurel" - because broadleaf Kalmia grows in the wild on rocky slopes and in mountain forests; or "Spoon-tree" - because the American aborigines make dinner spoons from the wood of shrubs and trees.

Description

A small tree or multi-stemmed shrub with intricately curved trunks can be found in a wide variety of places in North America: in cool meadows; in woodlands; on rocky mountain slopes. Ever since Per Kalm began growing plants of the genus named after him in Europe, gardeners have come to love the unpretentious shrub with beautiful spring flowering, and it has firmly taken root in a new place.

The alternate elliptical leaves resemble the leaves of Rhododendrons, also belonging to the Heather family. For twelve months of the year, they adorn the dense, rounded bushes with their shiny leathery dark green surface. The reverse side of the leaves is yellow-green.

At the end of May or at the beginning of June, flowers appear in deciduous whorls, forming numerous corymbose inflorescences, which simply surround the bush with a picturesque bloom. Each flower, the five petals of which are folded into a miniature cup, is a natural work of art. The color of the petals ranges from white to pink with purple markings inside.

The flowers are replaced by nondescript brown fruits, opening capsules that hang on the bushes all winter.

All parts of Kalmia broadleaf are highly toxic

Growing

Kalmia broadleaf tolerates a wide range of lighting conditions. It grows beautifully both in the open sun and in full shade. But a more favorable environment for the plant will still be partial shade, when the bush is half-sunrays from morning to lunchtime, and is covered with shade in the afternoon.

Unpretentiousness to soils excludes only heavy clayey soils, on which Kalmia broadleaf refuses to grow. Good soil drainage is essential for successful development.

To maintain the decorative effect of the plant, wilted inflorescences should be removed. After the end of the flowering period, the bush should be lightly trimmed to promote its splendor.

Usage

Broad-leaved Kalmia in its decorativeness is equated by gardeners with Rhododendrons and Azaleas (the latter stand out as an independent genus only by gardeners, and botanists attribute Azalea to the genus Rhododendron). Indeed, if you do not look closely at some of the differences, the appearance of the bushes is very similar.

From the bushes of Kalmia broadleaf, you can arrange a bright and dense hedge, or decorate the site with a separate picturesque specimen.