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  • KALMIA latifolia
    KALMIA latifolia
    © Burncoose Nurseries, all pictures for illustrative purposes only.
    <
    KALMIA latifolia  KALMIA latifolia  KALMIA latifolia  KALMIA latifolia  AZALEA - DECIDUOUS 'Fireball' and KALMIA latifolia
© Burncoose Nurseries, all pictures for illustrative purposes only. AZALEA - EVERGREEN 'Blue Moon' and KALMIA latifolia
© Burncoose Nurseries, all pictures for illustrative purposes only. CALYCANTHUS floridus 'Athens' and KALMIA latifolia
© Burncoose Nurseries, all pictures for illustrative purposes only. KALMIA latifolia and KALMIA latifolia 'Ostbo Red'
© Burncoose Nurseries, all pictures for illustrative purposes only.
    >

    KALMIA latifolia

    Commonly known as Calico bush, Mountain laurel

    Calico bush with waxy pink flowers
     
    Full Plant Details - Sun/Soil & other attributes
    • Flowering
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      Feb
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      Mar
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      Apr
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      May
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      Jun
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      Jul
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      Aug
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      Sep
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      Oct
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      Nov
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      Dec
    • Good to know
      Wildlife plant - nectar and pollen for insects.
    • Medicinal properties
    • Pests & Diseases
      None
    • Place of origin
      Eastern USA.
    • Resistant to honey fungus
      These plants have little or few problems with honey fungus.
    • Evergreen
      Oval to elliptic-lance-shaped, glossy, dark-green leaves to 12cm (5in) long.
    • Shades of pink
      All shades of pink through to Carmine (red)
    • Striped, Veined or Multicoloured
    • Bowl-shaped
      Or cup-shaped.
    • Border
      Suitable for a shrub border
    • Fully hardy
    • Entire
    • Elliptic
    • Lanceolate
    • Height
      3m (10ft)
    • Spread
      3m (10ft)
    • Tall Shrub
      Dense, bushy shrub. Produces flowers, 2-2.5cm (¾-1in) across, in large clusters 8-10cm (3-4in) or more across
    • Hardy - very cold winter
      Hardy in all of UK and northern Europe. Plant can possibly withstand temperatures down to -20°C (-4°F)
    • Summer Seasonal Interest
    • Acid / ericaceous loving
    • Fertile moist well-drained soil
      Humus-rich. Mulch annually with leaf mould in spring.
    • Full sun
      Where soil remains reliably moist.
    • Partial shade
    • harmful if eaten
      People and pets, i.e. cats, dogs, rabbits, rodents, tortoises
    • Bee friendly
    • Rabbit Resistant
    • Mature Size
      3m (10ft)
      Tall Shrub - guide for size not form Average Person
        3m (10ft)
       
    View Detailed Plant Description

     

    View Planting Tips and Care Advice
    View Customers Also Bought
    KALMIA latifolia 'Minuet'

    KALMIA latifolia 'Minuet'

    Calico bush, Mountain laurel
    Available from £14.50
    KALMIA polifolia

    KALMIA polifolia

    Eastern bog laurel
    Available from £20.00
    KALMIA latifolia 'Carousel'

    KALMIA latifolia 'Carousel'

    Calico bush, Mountain laurel
    Available from £14.50
    KALMIA latifolia 'Olympic Fire'

    KALMIA latifolia 'Olympic Fire'

    Calico bush
    Available from £35.00

    Varieties

    KALMIA latifolia 'Carousel'
    White flowers heavily marked with bright red-purple inside
     
    Small
    £14.50
    Available again from summer 2026
    Could be any time, June through to end August. This is not a guaranteed date but an estimate and subject to availability.
    Notify me when this plant is available to order
    Large
    £35.00
    KALMIA latifolia 'Minuet'
    White flowers with a deep red band inside
     
    Small
    £14.50
    Large
    £35.00
    KALMIA latifolia 'Ostbo Red'
    Red buds and pale pink flowers
     
    Small
    £14.50
    Available late spring to early summer 2026
    Spring according to the Met Office is defined as March 1st - May 31st. Therefore late spring is mid-April onwards. This is not a guaranteed date but an estimate and subject to availability.
    Notify me when this plant is available to order
    Large
    £35.00
    Estimated availability autumn 2025 Any time SEPT-DEC
    Not yet confirmed. Could be any time between September and December.
    Notify me when this plant is available to order
    KALMIA latifolia 'Snowdrift'
    Smallish pure white flowers
     
    Large
    £35.00
    KALMIA latifolia 'Zebulon'
    Palest pink, almost white flowers with a delicate deep pink ring at the centre
     
    Small
    £14.50
    Unavailable
    Notify me when this plant is available to order
    Large
    £35.00

    Useful extras...

    Fertilisers & Feeds - Empathy
    AFTER PLANT GROW YOUR OWN seaweed is ready to use liquid concentrate that was specially formulated be used on all edible plants.
    1ltr
    £8.50
    Fertilisers & Feeds - Empathy
    Recommended by the RHS. Contains Rootgrow™ mycorrhizal fungi. Suitable for all trees and shrubs (except rhododendrons, azaleas, heathers, cranberries and blueberries)
    Small - 60g sachet
    £3.00
    Medium - 150gm sachet
    £6.00
    Large - 360gram sachet
    £12.00
    Unavailable
    Fertilisers & Feeds - Vitax
    A useful fertiliser suitable for use on a wide variety of plants. Q4 provides all the nutrients and trace elements essential for vigorous growth, abundant flowering and ripening of fruit.
    0.9 kg
    £6.00
    Unavailable
    2.5 kg
    £13.00
    Unavailable
    4.5 kg
    £25.00
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