Kalmia latifolia 'MOYLAND'

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.

Moyland is a new variety of mountain laurel from 2009 named after a castle near the city of Kleve, Germany. Its parents are the same as for another spectacular variety with dark leaves called Mitternacht. Moyland, however, has only light pink leaves with conspicuous blotches around the flower corolla. Buds are light pink, too. The evergreen leaves are leathery, dark green, and glossy. In 10 years it grows about 1m tall and wide.

For a happy life it MUST HAVE acidic soil (add plenty of peat). Do not dig a deep hole but a wide one. 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 profuse flowering. Fertilize in spring and early autumn with rhododendron fertilizers. Use water solutions or slow-release fertilizers that will not burn the delicate surface roots. Fully hardy to -34°C (USDA zone 4).

Last update 21-04-2010