View source for Kalmia latifolia

{{SPlantbox
|familia=Ericaceae
|genus=Kalmia
|species=latifolia
|taxo_author=L.
|common_name=Mountain-laurel, Spoonwood
|habit=shrub
|poisonous=to some animals
|lifespan=perennial
|features=flowers
|flower_season=late spring, early summer
|flowers=pink, white
|Temp Metric=°F
|jumpin=If this plant info box on watering; zones; height; etc. is mostly empty you can click on the edit tab and fill in the blanks!
|image=Kalmia_Latifolia.jpg
|image_width=240
|image_caption=''Kalmia latifolia'' flowers
}}
'''''Kalmia latifolia''''', commonly called '''Mountain-laurel''' or '''Spoonwood''', is a species [[flowering plant]] in the [[blueberry]] family, [[Ericaceae]], that is native to the [[eastern United States]]. Its range stretches from southern [[Maine]] south to northern [[Florida]], and west to [[Indiana]] and [[Louisiana]]. 

It is widely grown for its attractive [[flower]]s. Numerous [[cultivar]]s have been selected with varying flower color.

It is an [[evergreen]] [[shrub]] growing to 3–9 m tall. The [[leaf|leaves]] are 3–12&nbsp;cm long and 1–4&nbsp;cm wide. Its [[flower]]s are round, ranging from light pink to white, and occurring in clusters. There are several named [[cultivar]]s today that have darker shades of pink, near red and maroon pigment. It blooms between May and June. All parts of the plant are [[poison]]ous.  [[Root]]s are [[Fiber|fibrous]] and matted.<ref name=Keeler>{{cite book
  | last =Keeler
  | first =Harriet L.
  | title =Our Native Trees and How to Identify Them
  | publisher =Charles Scriber's Sons
  | date =1900
  | location =New York
  | pages =186–189 }}</ref>

The plant is naturally found on rocky slopes and [[mountain]]ous [[forest]] areas. It prefers a [[soil pH]] in the 4.5 to 5.5 range, therefore it thrives in [[acid]] soil. The plant often grows in large [[thicket]]s, covering great areas of [[forest floor]].  In [[North America]] it can become tree sized on undeveloped mountains of the Carolinas but is a [[shrub]] further north.<ref name=Keeler />

{{Inc|
Kalmia latifolia, Linn. Mountain or American Laurel. Calico Bush. Fig. 2029. Shrub, 4-10 ft. high, rarely tree to 30 ft., with dense, round-topped head: lvs. petioled, alternate or irregularly whorled, oblong or elliptic-lanceolate, acute at both ends, dark green above, yellowish green below, 3-4 in. long: fls. in large, terminal compound corymbs on viscid peduncles; corolla rose-colored to white, with purple markings within, about 3/4in. across. May, June. New Bruns. to Fla., west to Ohio and Tenn. var. alba, bosse. fls. almost white. var. fuscata, Rehd. Corolla inside with a broad_ dark purpish brown band. var. myrtifolia, Bosse (var. nana or var. minor, Hort.). Fig. 2030. lvs. small, 1-2 in. long, deep green, of slow growth, forming a low, dense bush.  var. obtusata, Rehd. Of compact habit and slow growth: lvs. elliptic or oval, obtuse at both ends, 2-3 in. long. var. polypetala, Nichols, (var. monstruosa, Mouillef.). Corolla divided into 5 narrow petals which gives to the fls. a feathery appearance. var. rubra, Sweet (var. pavartii, Andre). Fls. deep pink.
}}

==Cultivation==


===Propagation===


===Pests and diseases===


==Varieties==


==Gallery==

<gallery perrow=5>
File:Buberel unknown flower 12.jpg|''K. latifolia'' flower buds.
File:Kalmia latifolia species.jpg|More mature buds of wild ''K. latifolia'', showing the geometry.
File:Mountain Laurel Kalmia latifolia 'Olympic Wedding' Leaves and Buds 2575px.jpg|Leaves and early buds
File:Kalmia_latifolia3.jpg|a ''Kalmia latifolia'' [[cultivar]]
File:Kalmia_latifolia2.jpg
File:Kalmia_latifolia1.jpg
File:Laurel1.jpg
File:Mountain Laurel Kalmia latifolia 'Olympic Wedding' Young Old Flowers 3264px.jpg|Flowers, both blooming and wilted, on the same flower head.‎
</gallery>

==References==
<references/>
*[[Standard Cyclopedia of Horticulture]], by L. H. Bailey, MacMillan Co., 1963
<!--- xxxxx  *Flora: The Gardener's Bible, by Sean Hogan. Global Book Publishing, 2003. ISBN 0881925381  -->
<!--- xxxxx  *American Horticultural Society: A-Z Encyclopedia of Garden Plants, by Christopher Brickell, Judith D. Zuk. 1996. ISBN 0789419432  -->
<!--- xxxxx  *Sunset National Garden Book. Sunset Books, Inc., 1997. ISBN 0376038608  -->

==External links==
*{{wplink}}

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