Kalmia latifolia ‘Keepsake’
Overview
Uses: Foundation plantings, shaded borders, woodland gardens, specimen plantings, containers.
Benefits: Raspberry-red buds open to deep burgundy flowers edged in a thin line of white, some of the darkest blooms of any mountain laurel. Dense, upright growth stays around 4–5 feet.
USDA Hardiness Zones: 5–8
Sun: Partial Sun to Partial Shade
Life Cycle: Broadleaf Evergreen Shrub
Growth Habit: Upright, Rounded — dense and well-branched.
Bloom Color: Red, opening to Burgundy with a White Edge
Foliage Color: Dark Green
Mature Height: 4–5 feet
Mature Width: 4–5 feet
Bloom Season: Late Spring to Early Summer
Growth Rate: Moderate
Summary
Dark, dramatic flowers set ‘Keepsake’ apart from other mountain laurels.
Raspberry-red buds open in late spring to cup-shaped burgundy flowers, each petal finished with a thin white edge. The dark color and bright rim give the clusters strong contrast in a shaded bed. It also blooms about a week later than most mountain laurels, which stretches the season when planted with other cultivars.
New growth comes in with a bronze-red tint before settling to glossy dark green. The plant grows dense and well-branched, reaching about 4–5 feet tall and wide.
That compact size suits a foundation bed, the front of a shaded border or a large container, where its dark flowers can be seen up close.
Care
Mountain Laurel ‘Keepsake’ Care
Plant in partial sun to partial shade. Morning sun with afternoon shade, or the high, dappled light at a woodland edge, gives the best balance of flowering and leaf color. More sun is fine in the North with steady moisture; deep shade cuts bloom.
Mountain laurel needs acidic, well-drained soil rich in organic matter. It struggles in heavy clay, standing water and alkaline soil, where the leaves turn yellow. Work in compost or pine bark at planting and set the root ball slightly high in heavier ground.
Water deeply through the first growing season, then during dry spells. The roots are shallow, so a 2–3 inch layer of bark mulch or pine needles keeps them cool and moist; keep mulch a few inches off the stems.
Feed lightly in early spring with a slow release fertilizer made for acid-loving plants. Skip lime and wood ash near the roots.
Pruning is rarely needed. If you want to shape the plant, do it right after flowering, because next year’s buds form over the summer. Snapping off spent flower clusters lets the plant put its energy into new growth and next year’s buds.
Growing in Containers
This compact laurel grows well in a large container filled with an acidic potting mix made for azaleas and rhododendrons. Use a pot with good drainage holes. Containers dry out faster than garden soil, so check moisture often in summer and water when the top inch feels dry. Feed lightly in spring, since potting mix runs out of nutrients sooner than garden soil. Roots in a container are more exposed to cold than roots in the ground. Plants hardy in the ground may require winter protection when grown in containers in colder zones.
Size
What Size is the Mountain Laurel ‘Keepsake’ for Sale Online?
Our Mountain Laurel ‘Keepsake’ ships in a greenhouse-grade grow pot and is appropriately sized for its container at the time of shipment. In spring it may arrive with buds set. If you have specific sizing or planting questions, please contact us.
How Large Does Mountain Laurel ‘Keepsake’ Grow?
‘Keepsake’ matures at about 4–5 feet tall and 4–5 feet wide, forming a dense, upright evergreen. It grows at a moderate pace for a mountain laurel and needs little pruning to stay in shape.
Additional Information
What are some common names for this plant?
Kalmia latifolia goes by several common names:
- Mountain Laurel
- Calico Bush
- Spoonwood
What color are the flowers on ‘Keepsake’?
The buds are raspberry red and open to deep burgundy flowers, with a thin white edge on each petal. It is one of the darkest-flowered mountain laurels, and the white rim makes the dark color stand out in shade.
Is Mountain Laurel ‘Keepsake’ a native plant?
‘Keepsake’ is a cultivar of Kalmia latifolia, which is native to eastern North America from Maine to the Gulf Coast. That makes it a nativar: a selected form of a native species. Browse more in our Native Plants of North America collection.
Is Mountain Laurel ‘Keepsake’ deer resistant?
Mountain laurel is generally considered deer resistant, and deer tend to pass over its thick, leathery leaves. Browsing pressure varies by region, and hungry deer in a hard winter may sample almost anything. For more options, see our Deer-Resistant Shrubs and Evergreens collection.
What grows well with Mountain Laurel ‘Keepsake’?
Mountain laurel wants the same acidic, moist, well-drained soil and dappled light as rhododendrons, so the two pair naturally. Ferns, hostas and woodland natives fill in below. For more spring color in the same bed, browse our Azaleas collection.
