2024 Author: Gavin MacAdam | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 13:38
The abundantly flowering evergreen Kalmia shrub represents the Heather family in this world. It is a welcome guest of the shady garden, decorating it in spring or early summer with its beautiful flowering. The plant requires vigilance, since all of its species are poisonous. Perhaps this is one of the reasons for the rare appearance of Kalmiya in Russian gardens
Genus Kalmia
The genus Kalmia is not numerous. There are only eight species of woody evergreens in its ranks.
The name of the genus immortalized the name of the Swedish botanist Pera Kalm, who lived in the 18th century and was a student of Carl Linnaeus, the "godfather" of most plants on Earth. Returning from an expedition to America, Pera Kalma grew North American plants on European soil, including representatives of the genus named after him.
The variety of the shape of the leaves of the shrub is repeated in the name of the species: narrow-leaved kalmiya; broadleaf salsa; multi-leaved salsa.
On the branches of last year, in the spring or at the beginning of summer, corymbose inflorescences bloom, collected from lush flowers of a flattened or cupped shape. Flower corollas can be white, reddish pink, or pink. Corollas cover ten long stamens, which peep out of the shelter with curiosity, as soon as you lightly touch the flowers.
The fruit is the seed capsule.
The whole plant is impregnated with the poisonous glycoside andromedotoxin.… Its high content turns the leaves of the plant into a dangerous food for animals, making their meat dangerous for humans.
Varieties
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Narrow-leaved Kalmia (Kalmia angustifolia) - a shrub no more than a meter high, decorated with elliptical-lanceolate leaves and purple-pink flowers blooming in June-July.
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Broadleaf Kalmia (Kalmia latifolia) - for its glossy elliptical-lanceolate leaves, Europeans call Kalmia mountain laurel. True, the leaves of the plant are poisonous and leathery. Flowers, from white to bright pink, are decorated with bright specks, delight in May-June.
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Multifoliate Kalmia (Kalmia polifolia) is a creeping evergreen species with a height of 10 cm to 50 cm. Leaves are oval-oblong, leathery. Pink flowers appear in May-June.
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Small-leaved Kalmia (Kalmia microphylla) - similar to a multi-leaved kalmia with short stature and flowers. Although its bell-shaped flowers are collected in cluster inflorescences, by which it differs from the multi-leaved Calmia. The tough lanceolate leaves are dark green above and pale below.
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Boxwood Kalmia (Kalmia buxifolia) - it comes in different heights, from 10 to 100 cm. Leaves and inflorescences also differ in shape in different varieties.
Growing
Ornamental shrubs are grown outdoors. They prefer places in shade or partial shade. They endure both hot and cold weather.
Soils need acidic, but not too much, closer to neutral, and moist. They can also grow on dry soils if the plant is provided with good protective mulch.
The bushes are planted in a permanent place in autumn or spring, having thoroughly fertilized the soil with rotted manure. In spring and summer, once every two to three weeks, watering is combined with mineral fertilizing, which adds acidity to the soil. Watering is required for young plants and in the dry season of summer.
To maintain the appearance, it is enough just to remove damaged and dry branches.
Reproduction
Propagated by cuttings in August, or by layering. To do this, use branches located close to the ground. Such a branch is cut on the underside and buried in earth. The next year, the layers are separated, transplanted to a permanent place. Cuttings are taken from lateral shoots, rooted, and after two years are planted in a permanent place.
Diseases and pests
May be affected by microscopic fungi; annoying whitefly. If the soil is too acidic, it is affected by chlorosis, which causes yellowing of the leaves.
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