Broad-leaved Kalmia: varieties, planting and care

Kalmia belongs to the Heather family. It is a perennial shrub that began its distribution in North America. For growth, the plant prefers undergrowth and forest edges. Broad-leaved Kalmia, or mountain laurel, is the most common type of this shrub. It is most often used to decorate garden and park plots.

In nature, the shrub can reach 1.5 m, undersized varieties - up to 30 cm.The plant has spread not only across the American continent, but also across European countries. Thanks to the labors of breeders who bred frost-resistant varieties of broadleaf calmia, it can be planted in the Moscow region. The plant is an evergreen bush, the central shoots of which have a lignified structure. The leaf plates are rather rigid, lanceolate.

From above they are painted in a rich green color, and from below they are lighter. The species is characterized by slow growth, young branches are elastic, have a purple tint of the bark, as the shrub matures, it acquires a grayish-brown color, and the shoots become lignified. The flowering period of the plant falls at the end of spring and lasts about a month. Inflorescences are very lush, umbrella-shaped, formed from a large number of flowers. They are formed at the tops of the shoots.

Small buds have a cupped shape and are predominantly pink in color, the corolla is painted in a red-pink tone. After flowering, small fruit-boxes with many seeds are formed, until mid-autumn they become fully ripe.

Broad-leaved Kalmia is characterized by a fairly wide varietal variety.

• "Elf" It is distinguished by inflorescences of a snow-white tone, the calyx is decorated with a scarlet star.
• "Olympic flame" with graceful buds of red and white tone.
• "Midnight" highlighted by the contrasting colors of the petals.
• Tofka belongs to new varieties. The buds reach 4 cm in diameter, their color is rather unusual: light pink with a delicate thin interrupting burgundy circle on the petals.
• Beacon possesses reddish-pink inflorescences.
• "Kaleidoscope" - a variety with a very showy color. The rims are painted in a light cherry tone, the rim of the bowl and the throat are white, the same color is sprayed in the form of a snowflake.
• Keepsake differs in the buds of a rich raspberry-burgundy tone. There is a white border around the edge of the flower.
• Zebulon with large light pink flowers with red dots and the same border around the middle.

For planting in the climatic zone of the Moscow region, frost-resistant varieties are suitable, with good adaptability to weather changes.

• Bandeau reaches a height of about 1.3 m, crown diameter is about the same. It blooms with pale pink buds with a dark burgundy throat.
• Carousel differs in the compact size of a low bush. The flowers are quite large, white with strokes and dots of purple.
• "Black label" has a medium size. The flowers are large, about 3.5 cm in diameter. The buds are white-chestnut in color.
• Ewa with a lush branched crown. In diameter, it can be about 1.3 m, decorated with inflorescences of a pale pink tone.
• Bullseye it has a fairly high frost resistance. The flowers are purple with a white border and a star-shaped spot at the base.

Broad-leaved Kalmia is rather capricious in relation to the choice of soil and conditions of maintenance. Sandy and loamy soils are poorly suited for it, but if the soil on the site is of this type, and not light and fertile, it can be slightly improved. To do this, it is mixed with peat, coniferous litter, deciduous soil and river sand, you can also make compost.

Calcareous impurities in the ground should be avoided, as they cause the death of the shrub. The plant prefers semi-shaded areas, protected from drafts. Calmia is a moisture-loving culture, but excessive moisture has a detrimental effect on the condition of the roots: they are damaged by putrefactive infections. Winter and spring direct sunlight is also detrimental to the plant, so the best place for planting would be an area under branchy tall trees.

It is recommended to plant the kalmia in open soil in the spring. Landing is carried out as follows:

• in the fall, the land in the selected area is well dug up and the necessary components are added;
• before planting, the site is well loosened;
• the hole is made about 40 cm deep and about 50-60 cm on the sides;
• it is imperative to lay a drainage layer on the bottom;
• soil mixture or earth is poured on top so that the hole is filled by a third, 2 tbsp is mixed into the soil. l. mineral fertilizers;
• the recess should be covered with a film and left for about a week, so the necessary microflora of calcium is formed in it;
• before planting, the seedling is kept in water with the addition of a growth stimulator for 24 hours;
• a seedling is placed in the hole, the roots are well spread, the root collar should be at the level of the soil;
• moisten abundantly, cover with earth and tamp on top;
• on the trunk circle it is worth applying a layer of peat or pine needles mulch.

It is not too burdensome to care for calmia broadleaf.

The shrub normally tolerates drought, but suffers from stagnant moisture, so it is provided with moderate watering. The soil should be completely dry between wetting. In hot weather, one watering every 2 weeks is enough for an adult plant (about 10 liters of water per one bush). In the presence of rains, the bush does not need additional moisture.

The bush is fed about three times a season, starting at 2 years of age. For the first time, fertilizers are applied in April, and feeding ends in June. Mostly complex mineral additives are used, but urea solution can also be used in the spring. During active development, you can add a little manure diluted with water under the bush.

In the southern regions, the plant hibernates without shelter. Although many varieties of calmia are broadleaf and are frost-resistant, in the Moscow region, the Leningrad region and other regions with similar climatic conditions, it should be covered with dry foliage or spruce branches for the winter. With the onset of spring, the shelter is removed.

Mountain laurel loves light soil, so after rains it is imperative to loosen the soil around the plant well, but this must be done carefully so as not to damage the roots that are near the surface. Every spring, it is worth applying a layer of mulch to the trunk circle, this will help retain moisture and prevent the top layer of soil from drying out.

Dilute the calcium in several ways:

• seed;
• layering;
• cuttings (green);
• root shoots.

When propagating by seeds in December, certain actions are carried out:

• the seeds are dried, they do it in a closed container;
• the container is filled with peat and moss, and sprinkled with sand on top;
• seeds are placed on the surface without sprinkling with earth;
• the container is placed in a well-lit cold place (it is possible on the balcony);
• you need to water regularly so that the soil is always slightly moist;
• with the beginning of spring, the seeds are transferred to a greenhouse or apartment with a temperature of 20-24 ° C and high humidity.

After about a month, seedlings begin to appear, usually the seeds of kalmia have a very high germination capacity. Seedlings grow slowly, adding 3-5 cm per year. Two-year-old sprouts can be fertilized with mineral fertilizers for growth. When forming branches, young bushes should be dived into new containers. 5-6 year old bushes can bloom, and at 6-7 years old they can be planted on the site.

Cuttings are cut in July from young shoots, treated with root formers and rooted in containers with peat, sand and coniferous litter in proportions 3X1X1. The containers are kept in a greenhouse. From above it is worth covering them with a film. After about 3-4 months, roots begin to appear, a normal root system is formed only at 2 years of age, then the bushes are planted in a permanent place of growth.

Reproduction by layering gives a pretty good result. To do this, reject the shoot and sprinkle it with earth (do it in spring or autumn), regularly moisten it. When the roots are well formed (usually for 2-3 seasons), the plant can be separated from the mother bush and planted in its place of growth.

The simplest and most effective method of reproduction of kalmia is by root shoots. In the spring, the offspring are carefully separated from the bush, the cuts are treated with crushed coal and planted in a separate container, where they grow for 3 years. During this time, the seedling will get stronger and grow full-fledged roots, and it can be planted on the site.

Kalmia broadleaf is quite resistant to diseases. Due to excessive moisture in a part of the plant may be susceptible to fungal diseases... With a small lesion, the diseased parts are removed, and the bush is treated with fungicidal preparations. If most of the shrub is infected, it is dug up and removed. To avoid such problems, it is worth adjusting the watering regime, as well as tying up the overgrown bushes, lifting the branches. Thus, air will be available to the inner stems and the root collar.

Sometimes the plant can be affected by chlorosis. - light, as if singed, spots appear on the leaves, and over time the entire leaf becomes yellowish. In such cases, it is recommended to add ferrous sulfate or "Chelate" to the soil, but apply according to the instructions. Calmium is resistant to pests, they practically do not affect it.

For information on how to plant calmia, see the next video.