Family: Ericaceae
Common Name: Calico Bush

Native to North America and Cuba, where they grow in woodlands and damp meadows, these beautiful, evergreen shrubs, related to rhodo­dendrons, produce unusual flowers in spring or early summer. They resemble blobs of icing sugar when they are in bud.

Species

K. angustifolia, sheep laurel, zone 2, is an open, quite twiggy shrub, to 1 m (3 ft), with saucershaped, pink flowers and oval leaves. This species is poisonous to animals. The form rubra is very popular and produces dark red blooms.

K. latifolia, calico bush, zone 5, grows to about 3 m (10 ft) high. It is the most popu­lar species and is grown mostly for its delightful flowers. The pale pink flowers have unusually arranged stamens and the deep green, oval leaves are quite leathery. It grows to about 3 m (10 ft). Some good cultivars include 'Fresca', with flowers banded in purple; 'Nipmuck', with virtually white flowers devel­oping from red buds; 'Ostbo Red', with pale pink flowers from bright red buds; and 'Silver Dollar', which has big white blooms.

Cultivation

Ideal for woodland gardens and shrub borders, kalmias like dappled shade and need acid, humus-rich, moisture-retentive soil. Keel) permanently mulched with chipped or shredded bark. Propagate by layering in spring or from semi-ripe cuttings in summer.

Climate

Cool and moist. There are species which are suited to various climatic zones.