Kalmia latifolia 'STERNTALER'

Sterntaler is the original name of a German fairy tale by the Grimm Brothers (The Star Money). It is about a poor, orphaned girl who goes out into the countryside, and all she has is her clothing and a loaf of bread. She is a goodhearted person and during her journey she gives all of her possessions away to others in need. She ends up with a shift only and meets a little naked girl begging for it. So she does not hesitate to give away her shift, too. At that moment stars begin to fall down and turn into silver tolars at her feet. She collects them and returns to the village, never again having to worry about money. This poetic background was used for a name of this new mountain laurel bred by Dr.Karl-Heinz Hübbers in 2001.

Sterntaler mountain laurel is a successful result of a controlled breeding programme hybridizing two older varieties: Ginkona and Mitternacht. By the way a year later the same programme brought another nice variety Bandeau. The star-shaped flowers are the same large size as on Ginkona, decorated with a dark maroon red, or almost burgundy black band and white margins. The centre is white, too, only with some maroon dots. It is a reliable bloomer and the inflorescence may hold up to 60 flowers which open continuously from late May until June. It forms an upright shrub with evergreen, narrowly elliptic, leathery, acuminate, glossy leaves 6-8 cm long.

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 25-02-2016