Kalmia latifolia ‘Minuet’ is a rarely seen and exciting evergreen shrub with glossy, lustrous, small elliptic leaves that bring gap-filling interest to both containers and herbaceous borders throughout the year. Reaching a height of up to 1 metre, and spreading to 80cm, ‘Minuet’ is also well-suited to a semi-shaded balcony or courtyard and will light up a smaller garden too. Flowers emerge in April and last until August for long-lasting and unusual impact. Blooms are borne in clusters as pale pink cups which open from delicately crinkled darker buds – each flower is mottled and marked with dark red. Remove the faded blooms regularly to prolong flowering.
Plant Kalmia latifolia ‘Minuet’ in acidic or neutral soil, of any kind except chalk, which is moist yet well-drained. Position where your hardy evergreen will benefit from partial shade and mulch annually in spring with well-rotted leaf mould or acid based compost.