Although Kalmia is Connecticut's state flower, this northeast native can be extremely tricky to grow.  While you still have to be mindful of the plant's care at home (particularly that you don't over-water), our grower, Prides Corner Farms, does its part to provide us with the best, most hardy varieties.  Prides Corner is licensed to propagate and grow cutting edge varieties created by the world's foremost authority on Kalmia: Connecticut resident, Dr. Richard Jones.  These latifolia hybrid varieties are grown for hardiness and performance, which helps make the challenge of growing Mountain Laurel a little more manageable!

Carousel


Olympic Wedding


Sarah (early buds)

Carousel & Olympic Wedding photos courtesy of Wikipedia.  Sarah photo courtesy of UConn Plant Database.

Please note: Mountain Laurel is extremely toxic to horses, goats, cattle & deer.

Bridesmaid Mountain Laurel

• 8-10’ tall x 8-10’ wide
• A beautiful, newer selection, Bridesmaid  has deep pink buds that open to a two-toned look of a dark pink outer corolla offset by a near white throat
• Shiny, green foliage is fungal resistant and showy on a dense, spreading landscape form

Carousel Mountain Laurel

• 8-10’ tall x 8-10’ wide
• Fast growing, dense and upright with burgundy stems holding dark, glossy foliage
• Soft pink flower buds open in late May to immaculate clusters of cup-shaped flowers boasting intricate patterns of cinnamon-purple bands over pure white
• Resistant to leaf spot, sun and shade tolerant

Kaleidoscope Mountain Laurel

• 8-10’ tall x 8-10’ wide
• Well-branched with a wide, upright habit 
• Late-flowering; brilliant red buds open with a broad cinnamon red band that almost fills the white corolla
• Vigorous growing with reddish new growth

Little Linda Miniature Mountain Laurel

• 5-6’ tall x 5-6’ wide
• Compact and slow growing, this dwarf variety has foliage half the size of traditional Mountain Laurel
• Dark red buds open into nearly white flowers in late May and age into a perfect pink
• Performs in sun or shade

Olympic Wedding Mountain Laurel

• 7-8’ tall x 7-8’ wide
• This dependable performer has deep green, glossy foliage and a vigorous, dense habit
• Profuse deep pink buds open to light pink with cinnamon banding in late May and last until mid June
• Fairly deer resistant variety

Sarah Mountain Laurel

• 8-10’ tall x 6-8’ wide
• Showy, deep red flower buds open to deep, pinkish-red flowers that are particularly showy
• Lustrous, deep green foliage and a dense growing habit make it a great landscape plant

Tinkerbell Miniature Mountain Laurel

• 4-5’ tall x 4-5’ wide
• Buds heavily with deep pink bunches that open to pure pink flowers in early June
• Upright growing branches spread as they age to produce a dense, rounded, bulky presence balanced by delicate foliage, creating a finely textured appearance
• One of the most aggressive growing small Kalmias, this variety is great for foundations and border groupings