Kalmia angustifolia (Sheep Laurel)

Kalmia angustifolia (Sheep Laurel) is a bushy evergreen shrub boasting a profusion of small, deep pink, saucer-shaped flowers in early to mid-summer. Borne in dense terminal clusters, they are followed by small capsules containing many seeds, which may persist on the branches for several years. The glossy, narrowly-oval, leathery leaves are blue-green and turn reddish-green to purple in the fall. Sheep laurel forms a well-developed and closely interlacing network of rhizomes, creating sizable thickets over time. Native to northeastern North America, Sheep Laurel can be used in naturalized areas, foundation plantings, or woodland gardens.

• Recipient of the prestigious Award of Garden Merit of the Royal Horticultural Society.
• Grows up to 1-3 ft. tall (30-90 cm) and 4-6 ft. wide (120-180 cm).
• Performs best in part shade in moist, acidic, well-drained soils. Will also grow in dry, sandy soils. Avoid planting in windy sites.
• Perfect as a specimen plant or massed in shrub borders, cottage gardens, rock gardens, woodlands, or naturalized areas.
• No serious pest or disease issues.
• Prune immediately after flowering.
• Deadheading promotes better blooms in the following years.
• Propagate by semi-hardwood cuttings.
• All parts of this plant are toxic if ingested.
• Toxic to dogs, toxic to cats, toxic to horses.
• Sheep laurel is found in northeastern North America from Newfoundland and Labrador west through Ontario, south through Michigan, and occasionally as far south as Georgia.