Light Needs
Mature Height
Mature Spread
Growing Zones
Kalmia latifolia 'Nathan Hale', also known as Nathan Hale mountain laurel, is a highly ornamental shrub. It blooms in the spring from deep red buds that open to pastel pink flowers. It is a broadleaf evergreen shrub with pointed, oval, and glossy leaves. New growth emerges reddish purple in the spring and matures to dark green in the summer. This kalmia is symmetrical and has a very compact form.
Nathan Hale is a multi-stemmed, dense shrub that reaches 7 - 8 feet high and wide. This beautiful shrub requires rich, moist, and acidic soil to thrive. It is hardy in zones 5-8 and does not perform well in hot afternoon sun or desert conditions. Nathan Hale is disease and pest resistant and can be expected to live for 50 years in well-drained soil. You can use it in a show-stopping hedge, for foundation planting, or as a colorful accent plant.
Nathan Hale Mountain Laurel Care
This shrub can be planted in full sun to full shade, although it blooms better in sun. Mountain laurels are woodland natives and prefer moist, well-drained soil with plenty of organic matter. They also perform best in acidic soils with pH 5 - 6. Apply a thick layer of compost around the base of the plant to conserve moisture and condition the soil. Feeding is not necessary, but a light application of fertilizer for acid-loving plants can be done in the spring.
This compact shrub requires minimal pruning. You can lightly prune after flowering to improve next spring’s blooms. Always remove dead or damaged branches at any time to keep the shrub healthy.
Nathan Hale Mountain Laurel Spacing
When growing as a tight hedge, space mountain laurels 6 feet apart, center on center. This will allow branches to eventually touch. If a gap is desired between plants, provide this shrub with 8 feet of space from other plants. Mountain laurels will quickly outgrow most containers, but can be potted temporarily before a permanent site in the ground is found.
Nathan Hale Mountain Laurel Plant Facts
Growing Conditions
- Hardiness ZonesGrowing Zones
- USDA Zones 5 to 8 (perennial); grown as an annual elsewhere (outdoors year-round); grown indoors elsewhere (outdoors year-round); grown in containers elsewhere (grown as a seasonal crop)
- Sun Exposure
- Full Shade to Full Sun (Most Sun Conditions)
- Mature Height
- 7-8 Feet
- Mature Spread
- 7-8 Feet
- Growth Habit
- , Mounded
- Water Needs
- Consistently Moist
Flowers & Foliage
- Flower Colors
- , Pink
- Flower Description
- Pastel Pink
- Bloom Time
- Late Spring to Early Summer
- Blooms On
-
Old Wood
?
"Blooms on" tells you which stems produce flowers, which decides when it's safe to prune.
- New Wood: Flowers form on stems that grow this season. Prune in late winter or early spring without losing blooms.
- Old Wood: Flower buds form on last year's stems. Prune right after flowering. Pruning in fall or early spring removes next year's blooms.
- Both New and Old Wood: Blooms on last year's stems and again on new growth, so it flowers even after a hard winter or a mistimed pruning. Prune lightly after the first flush of blooms.
- When to Prune
- Right after flowering
- Foliage Color
- , Green
- Foliage Description
- Dark Green
- Foliage Type
- , Evergreen
- Seasonal Interest
- , Spring Flowering, Summer Flowering
Garden Benefits
Plant Overview
- Common Name
- Nathan Hale Mountain Laurel
- Botanical Name
- KALMIA LATIFOLIA 'NATHAN HALE'
- Plant Type
- Shrub
Simple Plant Spacing Calculator
Please Note: The pictures below are to give a general representation of the different container sizes. The actual size/ages of plants are estimates and will vary based on type of plant, time of year, last pruning & many other factors.
Also Known As:
Quart
Plant Age:
~ 6 months - 1 year
Plant Size:
~ 4"-8"
Pot Size:
~ 4.75"H x 4.5"W
Volume:
1.50 quarts
Also Known As:
2.5 Quart Pot
Plant Age:
~ 1 - 2 years old
Plant Size:
~ 8"-12"
Pot Size:
~ 6.5"H x 6.5"W
Volume:
2.20-2.30 quarts
Also Known As:
#1 Container
1 Gallon
Plant Age:
~ 1 - 2 years old
Plant Size:
~ 10"-14"
Pot Size:
~ 7"H x 7.75"W
Volume:
2.26-3.73 quarts
Also Known As:
#2 Container
2 Gallon
Plant Age:
~ 1.5 - 3 years old
Plant Size:
~ 12"-18"
Pot Size:
~ 9.5"H x 9.5"W
Volume:
1.19-1.76 gallons
Also Known As:
#3 Container
3 Gallon
Plant Age:
~ 2 - 4 years old
Plant Size:
~ 12"-30"
Pot Size:
~9.5"H x 11"W
Volume:
2.32-2.76 gallons
Also Known As:
#5 Container
5 Gallon
Plant Age:
~3-4 years old
Plant Size:
~ 20" - 60"
Pot Size:
~11" H x 10 1/2” W
Volume:
3.5 - 4 gallons
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Plant Addicts ships to the lower 48 states within the U.S. Unfortunately, we do not currently ship to Alaska, Hawaii, or internationally.
This plant cannot be shipped to the following states: AK, HI. These restrictions apply only to this specific plant due to agricultural regulations or other limitations. Other plants may still be available for shipping to these states.
If you have any questions about shipping restrictions, feel free to reach out to our team!