Utilization of Kalmia latifolia L. germplasm as ornamentals
2017
Kalmia latifolia L. (mountain laurel) is an evergreen shrub with attractive flowers in the heath family and is a promising ornamental plant for the southeastern United States. Its natural distribution is from southern Maine west to central Ohio and south to eastern Louisiana and northwestern Florida. It forms a dense bush in rocky and sandy soil. The natural diversity and effects of selection and breeding since the early 1960s have yielded about 140 cultivars with various habits, many sizes of foliage, separate to united petals, and wide ranges of floral patterns and flower colors. Through field exploration, cultivation surveys in gardens and various landscapes, and nursery visits in the last three years, we have concluded that mountain laurel is much more popular in the northeastern US than in the southeastern US. The breeding efforts of Dr. Richard Jaynes in Connecticut have significantly increased the availability of cultivars, species adaptability, and market shares of mountain laurel in the northeastern US. Less than 10 cultivars are sold in Georgia and the southeastern US due to limited heat tolerance. Field exploration in north Georgia, Alabama, and Florida (Pensacola) indicated that wild mountain laurel plants are widely distributed in warm regions and can grow vigorously. We have collected and propagated these germplasm resources for breeding many more heat-adapted cultivars for use in southeastern US gardens and landscapes.
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