Plant Database

Description:

A very compact spring blooming broadleaf evergreen shrub with lovely deep pink buds and large pink flowers in spring; must have exacting growing conditions; superbly drained highly acidic and organic soil with a heavy mulch

Ornamental Features

Tiddlywinks Mountain Laurel features showy clusters of pink cup-shaped flowers with white overtones at the ends of the branches from mid to late spring. It has attractive dark green evergreen foliage. The small glossy pointy leaves are highly ornamental and remain dark green throughout the winter.

Landscape Attributes

Tiddlywinks Mountain Laurel is a dense multi-stemmed evergreen shrub with a more or less rounded form. Its average texture blends into the landscape, but can be balanced by one or two finer or coarser trees or shrubs for an effective composition.

This is a relatively low maintenance shrub, and should only be pruned after flowering to avoid removing any of the current season's flowers. It has no significant negative characteristics.

Tiddlywinks Mountain Laurel is recommended for the following landscape applications;

• Mass Planting
• General Garden Use

Planting & Growing

Tiddlywinks Mountain Laurel will grow to be about 3 feet tall at maturity, with a spread of 3 feet. It has a low canopy. It grows at a slow rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for 50 years or more.

This shrub performs well in both full sun and full shade. It requires an evenly moist well-drained soil for optimal growth, but will die in standing water. It is very fussy about its soil conditions and must have rich, acidic soils to ensure success, and is subject to chlorosis (yellowing) of the foliage in alkaline soils. It is somewhat tolerant of urban pollution, and will benefit from being planted in a relatively sheltered location. Consider applying a thick mulch around the root zone in winter to protect it in exposed locations or colder microclimates. This is a selection of a native North American species.