'Nathan Hale' Mountain Laurel | Kalmia Latifolia

Native cultivar. 'Nathan Hale' Mountain Laurel, is a highly ornamental shrub. It blooms in the spring from deep red buds that open to pastel pink flowers. It is a broadleaf evergreen shrub with pointed, oval, and glossy leaves. New growth emerges reddish purple in the spring and matures to dark green in the summer. This kalmia is symmetrical and has a very compact form. 

Nathan Hale is a multi-stemmed, dense shrub that reaches 7 - 8 feet high and wide. This beautiful shrub requires rich, moist, and acidic soil to thrive. It is hardy in zones 5-8 and does not perform well in hot afternoon sun or desert conditions. Nathan Hale is disease and pest resistant and can be expected to live for 50 years in well-drained soil. You can use it in a show-stopping hedge, for foundation planting, or as a colorful accent plant. 

Mature Height: 6-9 feet

Mature Width: 4-5 feet

Exposure: Full Shade to Full Sun (prefers shade)

Bloom Time: Broad-Leaf Evergreen w/ pink flower blooms in June

Zone Hardiness: 5-8