Kalmia latifolia
| Kalmia latifolia | |
| Light: |   |
| Moisture: |  |
| Hardiness: | 4 |
| Soil pH: | 5.6-6.5 |
| Evergreen | |
| Height: | 10' |
| Width: | 10' |
| Blooms: | Late Spring-Early Summer |
| Open Woods Forest | |
| Native to: | |
| Medicinal Rating: | |
| Tea: | Yes |
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Kalmia latifolia (common name: mountain laurel)
Propagation: Seed - surface sow in late winter in a cool greenhouse in light shade[1][2]. Prick out the young seedlings into individual pots as soon as they are large enough to handle. The seedlings are rather sensitive to damping off, so water them with care, keep them well-ventilated and perhaps apply a fungicide such as garlic as a preventative. Grow the young plants on in light shade and overwinter them in the greenhouse for their first winter[1]. Plant them out into their permanent positions in early summer. The seed is dust-like and remains viable for many years[2].
Cuttings of half-ripe wood, August in a frame. Very poor results unless the cuttings are taken from very young plants[3][1].
Layering in August/September. Takes 18 months[1]. The plants can also be dug up and replanted about 30cm deeper in the soil to cover up some of the branches. The plant can then be dug up about 12 months later when the branches will have formed roots and can be separated to make new plants[4].
Cultivation: Requires an acid humus-rich soil, succeeding in part shade[5] or in full sun in cooler areas. Prefers almost full sun[3]. Dislikes dry soils[5], requiring cool, permanently moist conditions at the roots[6]. Succeeds in open woodland or along the woodland edge[4].
Plants are very cold-hardy, tolerating temperatures down to about -30°c[7].
A very ornamental plant[3], there are many named varieties[5]. This species is not very easy to grow well in Britain, it probably prefers a more continental climate[3].
This species is the state flower of Connecticut[8].
Slow to rejuvenate if the plant is cut back[4].
Range: Eastern N. America - New England to New York south to W. Florida.
Habitat: Rich rocky, or dry gravelly woods in the shade of deciduous trees, and swamps in acid soils[9]. Prefers sandy or rocky soils[10].
Medicinal: Mountain laurel is a very poisonous narcotic plant the leaves of which were at one time used by some native North American Indian tribes in order to commit suicide[11]. Because of its toxicity, it is a remedy that is seldom used in modern herbalism[8], but the leaves have been used externally in herbal medicine and are a good remedy for many skin diseases and inflammation[11].
The leaves are analgesic, astringent, disinfectant, narcotic, salve and sedative[12]. An infusion of the leaves is used as a disinfectant wash and liniment to treat pain, scratches, rheumatism, inflammations and to get rid of body parasites[12].
Used internally, the leaves have a splendid effect in the treatment of active haemorrhages, diarrhoea and flux[11][6][13]. They are also used in the treatment of syphilis, inflammatory fevers, neuralgia, paralytic conditions, tinnitus and angina[8]. The leaves should be used with great caution however, and only under the guidance of a qualified practitioner[8]. Excess doses cause vertigo, headache, loss of sight, salivation, thirst, nausea, palpitations, slow pulse and difficulty in breathing[8]. See also the notes above on toxicity.
Usage: A yellow-tan dye is obtained from the leaves[14].
The plant can be grown as an informal hedge[4].
Wood - heavy, hard, strong but rather brittle. It weighs 44lb per cubic foot and is used for making small implements, tool handles etc[6][15][13][16][10]. The roots are used to make spoons etc, these are fashioned when the wood is green and soft, when dry they become very hard and smooth[17]. The wood is a good fuel[15][13].
Pollinators: Bees
Soil: Can grow in light, medium, and heavy soils.
Drainage: Prefers well drained soil.
In Leaf: Evergreen
Seed Ripens: Early Fall
Flower Type: Hermaphrodite
Known Hazards: The foliage is poisonous to animals[6][18][19]. The whole plant is highly toxic[20]. Cases of poisoning have occurred when livestock or game birds have been eaten after they have ingested this plant[8].
Also Known As: K. lucida.
Links
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Sheat, Wilfrid. Propagation of Trees, Shrubs and Conifers. St Martin, 1948.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Dirr, Michael and Charles Heuser. The Reference Manual of Woody Plant Propagation. Athens Ga. Varsity Press, 1987.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 Bean, William. Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Murray, 1981.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 Huxley, Anthony. The New Royal Horticultural Society Dictionary of Gardening. MacMillan Press, 1992.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 Thomas, Graham. Ornamental Shrubs, Climbers and Bamboos. Murray, 1992.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 Lust, John. The Herb Book. Bantam Books, 1983.
- ↑ Phillips, Roger and Martyn Rix. Shrubs. Pan Books, 1989.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 8.4 8.5 Bown, Deni. Royal Horticultural Society Encyclopaedia of Herbs and Their Uses. Dorling Kindersley, 1995.
- ↑ Lyndon, Merritt. Gray's Manual of Botany. American Book Co, 1950.
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 Britton, Nathaniel and Addison Brown. An Illustrated Flora of the Northern United States and Canada. Dover Publications, 1970.
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 11.2 Grieve, Margaret. A Modern Herbal. Penguin, 1984.
- ↑ 12.0 12.1 Moerman, Daniel. Native American Ethnobotany. Timber Press, 1998.
- ↑ 13.0 13.1 13.2 Usher, George. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. Constable, 1974.
- ↑ Coon, Nelson. The Dictionary of Useful Plants. Rodale Press, 1975.
- ↑ 15.0 15.1 Uphof, Johannes. Dictionary of Economic Plants. Weinheim, 1959.
- ↑ Sargent, Charles. Manual of the Trees of North America. Dover, 1965.
- ↑ Coffey, Timothy. The History and Folklore of North American Wild Flowers. Facts on File, 1993.
- ↑ Frohne, Dietrich and Hans Pfänder. J. A Colour Atlas of Poisonous Plants. Timber Press, 1984.
- ↑ Cooper, Marion. Poisonous Plants in Britain and their Effects on Animals and Man. The Stationery Office, 1984.
- ↑ Foster, Steven and Billy Tatum. Medicinal Plants of Eastern and Central North America. Houghton Mifflin, 1990.