Kalmia latifolia 'Ginkona'
mountain laurel 'Ginkona'
Bushy evergreen shrub about 1.8m high with lance-shaped, glossy dark green leaves to 12cm long. Clusters of distinctively crimped, large, cup-shaped, blush white flowers up to 4cm across, ringed and blotched with small red-purple spots just inside the rim, opening from pink buds, from late spring to midsummer
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Size
Ultimate height
1.5–2.5 metresTime to ultimate height
5–10 yearsUltimate spread
1.5–2.5 metresGrowing conditions
Moisture
Moist but well–drainedpH
AcidColour & scent
| Stem | Flower | Foliage | Fruit | |
| Spring | Pink White Red Purple | Green | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Summer | Pink White Red Purple | Green | ||
| Autumn | Green | |||
| Winter | Green |
Position
- Full sun
- Partial shade
Aspect
East–facing or North–facing or West–facing
Exposure
Exposed or Sheltered Hardiness
H6Botanical details
- Family
- Ericaceae
- Native to GB / Ireland
- No
- Foliage
- Evergreen
- Habit
- Bushy
- Potentially harmful
- Harmful if eaten. Wear gloves and other protective equipment when handling. Pets (dogs, cats, rabbits, tortoises): Harmful if eaten. For further information and contact numbers regarding pets, see the HTA guide to potentially harmful plants
- Genus
Kalmia are evergreen shrubs with simple, leathery leaves and racemes or corymbs of bowl-shaped flowers in spring or summer
- Name status
Accepted
How to grow
Cultivation
Grow in moist but well-drained acidic soil in partial shade, or in sun where the soil remains reliably moist; mulch in spring with leaf mould or well-rotted pine needles
Propagation
Propagate by semi-ripe cuttings in midsummer or layering in late summer
Suggested planting locations and garden types
- Cottage and informal garden
- Wildlife gardens
- Low Maintenance
- Hedging and screens
- Flower borders and beds
Pruning
Pruning group 8. Renovate, if necessary, over several seasons
Pests
Generally pest-free
Diseases
May be susceptible to honey fungus in gardens where it is present but insufficient data to determine degree of susceptibility
Get involved
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