Kalmia latifolia

Lovely pic of the open flower

Always wanted one of these, think they are so unusual......

Lovely, unusual flower.

The flowers are smaller than I expected, but when they're all open, it will look beautiful. :-)))

Wow that is a little beaut! are you sure you havent embroidered the centre!

Well now - I got my paint brush out again and painted the lines on! It is a bit time-consuming, though. ;-)

As you say, it is lovely!

:-))

Very nice, should be ok in my soil long as it can take drought

So unusual - the inside looks like a designer pattern lovely

I don't know about drought, Bjs, I'm keeping it well watered, obviously.

It is 'different', isn't it, Titchy!

I love that.......

There are different ones, too, but I had to get one the right size for my pot....

Lovely flowers - and I cant understand why this plant isnt more popular.

Sadly mine hasnt flowered this year - although the plant itself looks healthy, new leaves have developed and its grown about 4-6 inches... scratches head

Oh dear - I do hope mine flowers again next year! I've been feeding it on a monthly basis. How old is yours, Paul?

I planted it 2 years ago - got flowers the 1st year since then nothing. Ive heard they can take some time to establish before flowering freely. Fingers crossed for next year !!

I'll see what happens next year, then! Let's hope they both do what's expected of them. :-/

Im 100% sure that yours will flourish, whereas mine is doubtful - I seem to have brown fingers, rather than green ones (except when I squish greenfly !!)

I might well have black ones this evening - I've spotted blackfly on my Eryngiums and Cynaras! I'll have to deal with them as soon as the bees have gone. I'll have to spray them, I think, though - I can't reach to squish them all!

kalmias need lots of acid in the soil to flower well and some just sulk and some die back such is life! but still have a 4ft example that flowers well and has been in different pots for 10 years as was scared to plant out as i lost one due to drought they defiantly dont like drought they are woodland so like damp and shelter be patient they are very slow growers so i would put them in a pot so you can keep an eye on them

Yes, mine 'is' in a pot, and it's flowering its socks off this year. I must remember to feed it. I did take off the first couple of inches of compost and replaced it before I planted the beddding plants round it, but that's not really adequate.

I can't plant it out, as my soil is nuetral.