Elegant broad-leaved shrubs are desirable in every garden. About evergreen perennial North American origin is known on all continents of the globe. However, until recently, this magnificent shrub with the nickname "mountain laurel" in Russia could only be seen in botanical gardens, greenhouses and some private collections. Today, there are many varieties that differ from wild specimens in adaptability to moderate climatic conditions. The peculiarities of broad-leaved calcium, the intricacies of its planting and care in the area of the Moscow region will be discussed further.
Short description
Admire the subtle exquisite beauty of this plant can be infinite. Its decorative characteristics are second only to rhododendrons. Not for nothing in many sources, this type of calcium is described as one of the most beautiful.
Did you know? The name of the flower was given in honor of the Swedish botanist Pierre Calma, who in the XVII century made the first attempts to grow wild tree-like bushes from North America on European lands.
Externally, kalmia latifolia broad-leaved kalmia is an evergreen shrub with lignified central stems up to 9 m high, with broad, rigid lanceolate foliage and lush umbrella-shaped inflorescences consisting of 250 single flowers.In the wild North American rocky areas and mountain forests, which are the native environment, the plant is impressive in size and often reaches a height of 12-15 m. At home, it is impossible to grow such a giant.
Buddley David, heather, hydrangea, weigela, jasmine, silverweed, camellia, magnolia, lilac, spirea, forsythia - shrubs that will perfectly decorate your garden plot.The culture slowly develops, annually increasing about 2 cm of branches. In the first stages of development, they are thin, but elastic, with purple bark, and as they age, they become gray-brown and ligneous.
Sheet plates are characterized by dark green colors on the outside and light colors on the inside. The size of each leaf reaches a length of from 7 to 12 cm, and in width - up to 4 cm.
Shrub blooms in late spring. Its thick floral brushes are located on the tops of the shoots and, when the buds open, completely cover the crown with delicate petals. Fabulous atmosphere reigns in the garden for a month, until the flowers fall off. 
Important! In the composition of the calcium found toxic substances - andrometoxin and albutin, which when injected into the mucous membranes of living organisms cause severe irritation, vomiting, respiratory problems, convulsions, paralysis, slow down the heartbeat. As a result of such contact, death may occur in a person or an animal. Therefore, when working with shrubs, observe security measures and try not to touch the stems, leaves and flowers.
Initially, there were only scarlet broad-leaved squid in nature, but breeders managed to significantly expand the color range of the plant, and also pleasantly surprise flower growers with varieties with intricate ornaments and a border on the petals.
Winter hardy varieties
When grown in the garden, the mountain laurel has established itself as a very demanding thermophilic plant. Therefore, not all varieties are suitable for the suburban region. Of all the variety, the fittest are:
- "Bandeau" - shrub develops up and in width to 1.3 m, characterized by pale pink flowers with dark burgundy throat;
- "Carousel" - the variety is a compact low bush with large white buds, decorated with purple strokes and dots;
- "Elf" - it is distinguished by low stems that grow up to a maximum of 80 cm, and snow-white flowers with scarlet "asterisk" on the cup;
- "Black Label" - characteristic features of the variety are medium growth, large flowers, reaching a diameter of 3.5 cm, and white-chestnut coloring of buds;
- "Ewa" - is a bush with a widely branched crown, which grows in diameter up to 1.3 m, and delicate pink inflorescences;
- "Bullseye" - blooms with purple buds with white trim and a "star" at the base.
Did you know? Due to the abundant and long-term flowering of calcium is an excellent honey plant. Here only the delicacy absorbs all the toxic substances of the plant. Because of this, the ancient Greeks called him "insane" and used him as a dope to fight Xenophon.
How to choose seedlings when buying
Not only survival of ornamental shrubs, but also their further development depends on the quality of planting material. Consequently, the choice of seedlings must be approached very seriously and scrupulously.
Of course, it is better to make a purchase in specialized stores and garden centers with an impeccable reputation. Feel free to ask many uncomfortable questions to sellers. On the contrary, it is worthwhile to be on their guard if they do not possess complete information about their product and cannot satisfy your curiosity. 
Try to find out as much as possible about the seedling of the variety you like. And then carefully look at its roots and stems. Many outlets today sell ornamental plants in containers with a closed root system.
In this case, it will be enough to evaluate the general condition of the flower and find out its age.
Experts advise to buy seedlings in pots, because their root system is nourished and free from the risks of drying. In addition, capricious calmia reacts very sensitively to transplants. Therefore, it is better not to disturb her again.
Important! Never buy seedlings with stains, overflows, neoplasms, darkened and moldy circles on roots and stems. Also it is necessary to refuse copies with mechanical damages.
A healthy seedling has always smooth and even stems. It is desirable that the plant had 2-3 lignified branches with a height of 10 to 20 cm (depending on the shape). Also, its roots should be well branched and fresh.
You can check this by making a small scratch on one of the processes. The shown light wood testifies to the quality of the goods. Particular attention should be paid to the place of transition of the root into the trunk. It should be of a homogeneous structure, without any suspicious points and faults. 
For cultivation in gardens and parks, choose 2-year specimens that have already wintered. They have a sufficiently developed root system and crown, which will contribute to rapid rooting and adaptation to winter.
Location selection
Mountain laurel is very picky about soil, lighting and temperature conditions. Therefore, the choice of a landing site is the most important stage of the preparatory work.
Take a closer look at your site. If it already grows rhododendrons or other members of the Vereskov genus, then they will like the neighborhood of Calmia.
Important! All sorts of calcium take root very badly on sandstones and heavy loams. In the absence of other areas with light fertile soil, the substrate can be improved with the help of high-moor peat, coniferous litter, hardwood and river sand. On depleted soils will need more and compost. Moreover, it is necessary to bring in soil mixture in advance and in large quantities so that the root system of the shrub has the opportunity to feed.
For a flower, it is advisable to pick up a half-shaded area away from the prevailing drafts and northerly winds, in places where cold air does not gather, melt and rain water. Culture, although it loves moisture, but with its excess, as a rule, suffers from putrid infections and dies. 
Calmia is afraid of winter and spring sunshine. Therefore, it is desirable to place it somewhere under tall trees with razlohimi branches.
When choosing an area for planting, it is necessary to take into account the particular soil composition. Shrubs feel comfortable on acidic or slightly acid loose soil with good aeration and drainage. Avoid calcareous areas and materials - the plant is not able to put up with them and dies.
Step-by-Step Instruction Landing
Gardeners who have a solid experience in the cultivation of heather plants are advised to root the calcium in spring. This process is preceded by a thorough preparation of the site and seedling. We will understand in all stages in turn:
Did you know? An unknown plant, which eventually received the name "Calmia", was discovered nerds on the North American coasts in 1624.
- In the autumn, do a deep digging of the selected zone and correct the soil. Even in fertile areas, it will not interfere with the application of a nutrient mixture from equal parts of river sand, compost and doubled portions of top peat, hardwood and coniferous litter.
- If you have purchased a seedling with an open root system, be sure to put it in the water for a day. To improve further growth, add growth stimulant to the container ("Kornevin", "Ekosil"). After that, dip the rhizome into a special clay talker. It will protect the roots from drying out and allow the plant to use resources for quick adaptation to new conditions.
- In spring, when the weather is stable and warm, and the ground is warm enough, dig a landing hole of appropriate size. Often they make a square groove with 60 cm sides and a depth of 40 cm.
- At the bottom of the hole is sure to lay out the drainage. For these purposes, suitable broken brick, expanded clay and any other materials, except for the known rubble.
- Top with fertile soil (you can use the mixture, which was prepared in the fall to adjust the site) so that the pit is filled by a third. It is advisable to add 1-2 tablespoons of mineral complex fertilizers to each well (do not forget to mix them with the soil mixture).
- Cover the prepared recess with plastic wrap and leave for a week to form the microflora necessary for the flower and shrink the soil.
- Insert a seedling into the pit and gently straighten its roots. If you are dealing with a container, carefully transfer the earthen room, without destroying it, and place it in the hole.
- Water the flower well. And it should be done until the earth ceases to absorb moisture.
- Cover the roots with soil, carefully tamp it down and grumble the tree trunks with peat or needles. These materials contribute to the oxidation of the substrate, therefore, are desirable for all types of calcium and other heathers.
Important! When planting soda, make sure that their root neck is at ground level. Otherwise, the shrub threatens to dry or rot.
Use in landscape design and selection of partners
In landscape gardening design, there are also some fashion trends. And, despite their variability, interest in the flowering ornamental perennials will never lose its relevance.
This also applies to calcium, even despite its poisonous secret that hides behind the refined beauty and tenderness.
In the garden, such a shrub will decorate any area. Many designers love to create an alluring look of compositions of calmia and rhododendrons. Different periods of their budding allow a fabulous atmosphere to reign on the site throughout the warm season.
Also, single shrubs look good against a green lawn or under the cover of a lush crown of a tall tree. In the Japanese style, it is very common to plant calmium on an alpine slide, especially since the broadleaf species is adapted to rocky conditions. 
Garden specimens of these plants are often found as a decoration of the alleys, the central entrance to the house or gazebos. These shrubs are planted in the best areas to create a cozy and at the same time festive atmosphere.
The flower feels good in the neighborhood with all heather brothers, as well as all coniferous and marsh cultures, wild rosemary, Erica, ferns and common snail.
Did you know? In medicine, andrometoxin is widely used, which is present in small-leaved calcium. The substance is an integral component of external remedies for skin diseases.
How to care
It is only at first glance it seems that the capricious calmia exhausts you all the power to care for it. In fact, the flower needs a little attention and knowledge about its requirements for watering, feeding, pruning, preparing for winter. Consider all the details of care culture.
Watering and loosening the soil
This flower loves moisture, but can not tolerate its excess. Therefore, the bush should be watered as the upper soil ball dries in the near-stem circle. In hot weather, be sure to moisten the roots and crown of exotic.
Do this in the morning or evening, so that the sun's rays do not damage the foliage. Kalmya is enough to moisturize 2-3 times a week. Under young shrubs, pour out 2-3 liters of water each time, and mature specimens will need about 10 liters. In a drought arrange culture sprinkling. 
Each watering should end up loosening the soil. Do not allow the weeds to break out in the area, and a hard earth crust will form in the near-stem hole.
In such conditions, you deprive the root system of the flower of oxygen and nutrients. Therefore, do not be lazy to periodically process the area with a hoe and, if necessary, renew a layer of mulch.
Important! Experienced gardeners advise watering heather crops (including calcium, among others) with acidified water. To do this, add in a bucket of liquid 20 g of vinegar or a tablespoon of citric acid.
Top dressing
After planting a young seedling of calcium, fertilizers can be forgotten for the next 2-3 years. Then it is advisable to feed the bush at least once a season at the same interval. It is best to plan such procedures in the period from April to June.
For these purposes, it is best to use mineral complex fertilizers for rhododendrons. Do not forget to pay attention to the packaging label "spring" or "autumn". In the absence of purchased funds you can use organic.
Keep in mind that varietal hybrids require much lower nutrient concentrations than ordinary varieties. In the spring, it is desirable to make a solution of urea (1 tablespoon per bucket of water). 
At the peak of the growing season, the flower requires slurry from 1 portion of the solution of chicken manure or mullein and 15 parts of water. Under each plant it is enough to pour out 3-5 l of liquid.
Particular attention should be paid to the plant during the flowering period, because abundant inflorescences greatly deplete the culture. In the autumn it is desirable to feed, scattered under the crown "Kemira wagon."
Important! The need to apply fertilizer under the bushes of calcium is eloquently indicated by the foliage that is pale from the back side. Be careful, because the inner side of the leaves of all varieties of these plants from nature has a pale shade, which sometimes gets a bluish tint.
Pruning
Given the slow pace of development of shrubs, you can relax and taste the beauty of its flowering. Over the year, the plant grows weak growth and reaches its standard volumes only by the age of 10, which, depending on the variety, fluctuate between 60-130 cm. The branches of a bush without human intervention are prone to forming a compact neat crown. Therefore, formative pruning plant is not needed, although it is easily tolerates it. 
Experts advise to monitor the shrub and carry out its timely cleaning from damaged, old and dead branches. If desired, and skills from the calcium, you can create a beautiful blooming figure.
In addition, it is advisable to remove bloomed buds from the bushes in time so that the plant does not use wasted forces for their maintenance.
Wintering
Perhaps this nuance is the most important in the care of the North American exotics. Thermophilic calmia broadleaf, in spite of the frost resistance grafted genes, at the beginning of its development requires human assistance.
It consists in abundant watering of young seedlings in the fall and mulching of tree trunks before the onset of cold weather. Experts recommend using peat and humus as winter mulch. Better to do 10-15 cm flooring. 
Important! Calium is propagated by seed and vegetative methods. Botanists refute the generally accepted view that getting a new shrub from a cutting is much more difficult than from seed.
Krona plants also need to cover. For these purposes, wooden or roofing frames, insulated from the inside with foam, are used. For dwarf specimens, you can use an inverted box without a day. From above such constructions are spuding with dry foliage or covered with spruce or non-woven material.
It’s too early to install all these constructions, because the bush can dry out, and late actions are fraught with its freezing. Therefore, monitor the temperature outside and arrange for the preparation for the winter in a timely manner.
In the spring with the onset of heat culture gradually reveal. Снимать сразу все материалы не стоит, поскольку кальмии нужно время для адаптации. 
If you follow all the above recommendations, the mountain laurel will not bring you much trouble, but on the contrary, will take pleasure in its elegance and refinement. Moreover, shrubs practically do not get sick and are not exposed to attacks of pests.
