Kalmia latifolia 'Tinkerbelle'

Amazing,

That is splendid. Mountain Laurel - sounds as though it might even grow up here. Must have a browse.

if you find anything Oji please will you let me know?

Looked this up - moist acid soil, sun/partial shade, fully hardy to minus 15C. Excellent!

perfect oji, does it say where they sell it?

I didn't get further than finding that Burncoose will have it in again in October, Sticki.

ok thank you oji

found a lot of latifolia but not tinkerbell specifically

http://apps.rhs.org.uk/rhsplantfinder/plantfinder2.asp?crit=Kalmia+and+latifolia&Genus=Kalmia

This is just so pretty! :o)))

Tinkerbelle is nice but there are several nice varieties listed on RHS. Big Boy is one I have, beautiful large leaves and attractive white/light pink flowers. Sarah, Keepsake, Kaleidoscope, Heart's Desire (my favorite), Olympic Fire and several others have beautiful flowers. Most of the ones I listed are close to red or a combination of red and white. Olympic Fire is an easier one from cuttings so is usually more common. It is a larger variety with colorful new growth and deep pink buds opening to pink. If you see Kalmia angustifolia, they have similar flowers only smaller. If you get one just remember very acidic soil and good drainage. They are tempermental if the growing conditions aren't right.

When I found this one, it was tagged as 'Elf' which is a white flowering dwarf variety. I only bought it because they didn't have any others for sale. It was a very pleasant surprise when pink flowers opened! I would have bought a few more if I knew they were this variety!

olympic fire sounds very appropriate for this summer!! i have acidic soil which is very free draining, so i shall keep my eyes open ~ thank you.

Good luck, I hope you are able to find one! If it were easier to ship them, I have several mountain laurel seedlings but you will get nicer flowers and a larger plant if you can find one. Their leaf color can really turn yellow if soil isn't acidic enough, if you can get the pH to 4.5-5.0 that would suit them perfectly. I was able to get my soil close for most of them but you can always add a little Ammonium sulfate if they look a little yellow.

I dont know the precise ph level of my soil, perhaps i should test it one day but it does grow camellias, azaleas, rhodedendrons and pierris quite happily.

Thanks Rk, i shall keep looking, going on holiday soon so will look again after ~ you never know perhaps i will find one in scotland!!??

Sounds like you have all the right conditions for acid-loving plants. I would think the climate there would be perfect for mountain laurels too. Most soils don't get anywhere close to 4.5 (unless it's swampy or in the woods) but just adding peat moss should be enough if you can grow everything else.

I'm jealous that you are going to visit Scotland, I have only been outside of the US a few times and it is always Canada haha. Hope you enjoy it, take lots of pictures :)

i should imagine canada must be similar? i have never been that far [furthest i have ever been is italy]

but scotland is lovely ~ i will be on Harris ~ one of the furthest west of the Hebridean islands ~ it is amazing, it can be cold and windy but can also be stunningly beautiful.

take lots of pictures???? it would be an unusual day if i took less than 50 ~ but if the weather stays dry i hope to be on the beach around 10 at night still taking photos!!!! [it will still be light]