Kalmia hirsuta Burkwood & Skipwith at the first cold night

at the first cold night of autumn

the white single flowers of 'Alba' bring a soft clarity to the garden

deep green foliage that often takes on bronze or cream tips on new growth

a welcome note of toughness in a genus usually pinned to the Deep South and the coast

the branches layering horizontally

Kalmia hirsuta Burkwood & Skipwith at the first cold nightThis low shrub with tiny evergreen leaves grows in moist peaty sand in the southern pine flatwoods from South Carolina to Florida and Alabama. The pink summer flowers may be needed to convince some people that this is indeed a Kalmia. It is a charming little shrub for a moist but well drained sandy acid soil in the sun or semi shade. Care must be taken to insure it is not overtopped or overwhelmed by competing vegetation.