Kalmia latifolia ‘Red Bandit’
Overview
Uses: Foundation plantings, shaded borders, small gardens, specimen plantings, native landscapes.
Benefits: Deep pink flowers with a bold maroon band open in late spring, giving each cluster a two-tone look. Compact, rounded evergreen growth stays around 4–5 feet, small enough for beds close to the house.
USDA Hardiness Zones: 5–8
Sun: Partial Sun to Partial Shade
Life Cycle: Broadleaf Evergreen Shrub
Growth Habit: Rounded — compact and dense, with glossy leaves to the base.
Bloom Color: Deep Pink with a Burgundy Band
Foliage Color: Green
Mature Height: 4–5 feet
Mature Width: 4–5 feet
Bloom Season: Late Spring to Early Summer
Growth Rate: Slow
Summary
Compact and boldly banded, ‘Red Bandit’ brings two-tone mountain laurel flowers to small, shaded spaces.
In late spring, the buds open to deep pink, cup-shaped flowers, each marked inside with a wide maroon band. Gathered in rounded clusters at the branch tips, the flowers show pink from a distance and a bold ring of color up close.
The plant stays compact and rounded, with dense, glossy green leaves that hold through winter. At about 4–5 feet tall and wide, it fits a foundation bed, the front of a shaded border or a large container without crowding nearby plants.
Like other mountain laurels, it grows slowly and lives a long time, so it holds its shape in a small space for years.
Care
Mountain Laurel ‘Red Bandit’ 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 ‘Red Bandit’ for Sale Online?
Our Mountain Laurel ‘Red Bandit’ 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 ‘Red Bandit’ Grow?
‘Red Bandit’ matures at about 4–5 feet tall and 4–5 feet wide, forming a compact, rounded evergreen. It grows slowly 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
Is ‘Red Bandit’ a good choice for a small garden?
Yes. Most mountain laurels grow into large shrubs of 7 feet or more, but ‘Red Bandit’ stays near 4–5 feet with a compact, rounded shape. That makes it a good fit for foundation beds, small shaded gardens and large containers.
Is Mountain Laurel ‘Red Bandit’ a native plant?
‘Red Bandit’ 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 ‘Red Bandit’ 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 ‘Red Bandit’?
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.
