Kalmia latifolia 'CAROUSEL'

Honestly, we are nuts about kalmias – mountain laurels. Not very well known, these mid-sized shrubs deserve more attention as they belong to the most beautiful flowering evergreen shrubs of our climate. They come from south-eastern USA and the Asian mountains where they grow under taller trees. There are many cultivars combining all sorts of red, pink and burgundy shades with white, all of them beautiful, all of them very hardy. The best display is when half of the bloom cluster is still in buds which mostly have a different colour than the flowers themselves.

Carousel is an attractive mountain laurel variety bred by Richard Jaynes, and introduced in 1982. It has medium-sized flowers with irregular, deep maroon, dotted corolla on white background. Buds are grayish white and open in late May for blooming period of 4-5 weeks. Evergreen leaves are rich green, narrowly elliptic, and very resistant to black spot. It grows medium fast to about 1 m tall and wide in 10 years.

For a happy life mountain laurels MUST HAVE acid soil (add plenty of peat). Plant it in light, well drained soil that has to be well mulched to keep the surface roots moist at all times. Full sun is best for best colouring. Fertilize in spring and autumn with rhododendron fertilizers. Use water solutions or slow-release fertilizers that will not burn the delicate surface roots. Fully hardy to approx. -34°C (USDA zone 4), suitable for outdoor pots.

Last update 31-08-2012