Kalmia latifolia ‘Sarah’
Overview
Uses: Foundation plantings, shaded borders, specimen plantings, informal hedges, native landscapes.
Benefits: Bright red buds open to pink-red flowers, often called the reddest bloom of any mountain laurel. Dense, rounded evergreen growth reaches about 4–6 feet with dark green leaves.
USDA Hardiness Zones: 5–9
Sun: Partial Sun to Partial Shade
Life Cycle: Broadleaf Evergreen Shrub
Growth Habit: Rounded — dense, full branching from the base.
Bloom Color: Red, opening to Deep Pink
Foliage Color: Dark Green
Mature Height: 4–6 feet
Mature Width: 4–6 feet
Bloom Season: Late Spring to Early Summer
Growth Rate: Moderate
Summary
For the reddest mountain laurel flowers, ‘Sarah’ is the standard.
In late spring, bright red buds cover the branch tips and open to pink-red, cup-shaped flowers that hold their color rather than fading. With buds and open flowers on the plant together, it reads as red from across the yard, a color that is rare in mountain laurel.
‘Sarah’ comes from the breeding work of Dr. Richard Jaynes in Connecticut, and it has since been used as a parent for other red-budded cultivars, including ‘Kaleidoscope’.
Between bloom seasons it is a dense, rounded evergreen with dark green leaves. At about 4–6 feet tall and wide, it fits a foundation bed or the middle of a shaded border, and several planted in a row make an informal flowering hedge.
Care
Mountain Laurel ‘Sarah’ Care
Plant in partial sun to partial shade. ‘Sarah’ takes more sun than many mountain laurels, and morning sun brings out the deepest flower color. In hot areas, afternoon shade keeps the leaves from scorching. Deep shade means fewer flowers.
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 sparingly in early spring with a slow release fertilizer made for acid-loving plants. ‘Sarah’ does not like heavy feeding, so a light application is enough. 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.
Size
What Size is the Mountain Laurel ‘Sarah’ for Sale Online?
Our Mountain Laurel ‘Sarah’ 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 ‘Sarah’ Grow?
‘Sarah’ matures at about 4–6 feet tall and 4–6 feet wide, forming a dense, rounded evergreen. It grows at a moderate rate for a mountain laurel, so give it room at planting and it will fill the space over several years.
Additional Information
What are some common names for this plant?
Kalmia latifolia goes by several common names:
- Mountain Laurel
- Calico Bush
- Spoonwood
Does ‘Sarah’ have truly red flowers?
‘Sarah’ has some of the reddest flowers of any mountain laurel. The buds are bright red, and the open flowers are a deep pink-red that holds its color. Most other red-budded cultivars open to light or medium pink, so ‘Sarah’ keeps a redder look through bloom.
Is Mountain Laurel ‘Sarah’ a native plant?
‘Sarah’ 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 ‘Sarah’ 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 ‘Sarah’?
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.
