Kalmia latifolia ‘Sarah’
As with other mountain laurel, it will do best if it is planted in bright light, with several hours or more of sun. Plant in an acid, well-drained soil and mulch with organic matter such as wood chips or pine bark…
Plant name:Kalmia latifolia 'Sarah'
Virtues: Kalmia, like rhododendrons, make great cut flowers.
Flower color: Rich pink fading to medium pink.
Foliage: Dense and dark green.
Goes great with: 'Sarah' is stunning when planted with the light pink or white native laurels, and is a valuable plant to mix in with rhododendrons because it flowers later in the season.
Habit: The growth habit is rounded--after 20 years the original plant was 6 feet high and 7 feet wide.
Season: Year-round. It flowers at the same time as the native mountain laurel, early June in southern New England.
Suggested by: Dick Jaynes of Broken Arrow Nursery (www.brokenarrownursery.com).
Where does it come from: It was selected from a controlled cross Dick Jaynes made in 1976 between a rich pink flowered plant and 'Pink Charm'. 'Sarah' is the seed parent of 'Kaleidoscope', and was named for his wife.
Tips: As with other mountain laurel, it will do best if it is planted in bright light, with several hours or more of sun. Plant in an acid, well-drained soil and mulch with organic matter such as wood chips or pine bark. Light pruning can be done anytime of the year. Go to brokenarrownursery.com for more information-also a source for the book, "Kalmia, Mountain Laurel and Related Species" by Dick Jaynes (Timber Press, TK). Zones 5 to 8.
