Light Needs
Mature Height
Mature Spread
Growing Zones
Mountain Laurel is always a welcome addition to the spring woodland garden. Red Bandit has gorgeous maroon edged pink blooms that can’t be beat. Mountain Laurel is native and will tolerate soils that may make other blooming shrubs sulk.
Red Bandit Mountain Laurel that will thrive in a wide range of hardiness zones. Extra mulching may be necessary in the lower zones to ensure that Kalmia survives extra cold or snowy winters. The delicate flowers of Mountain Laurel attract native bees and hummingbirds like no other shade-blooming shrub.
Red Bandit Mountain Laurel Care
Mountain Laurel provides a large impact, while remaining ultra low maintenance. A woodland plant that typically grows at the sunnier edges, Red Bandit will like a part sun to part shade spot in the garden. The pH is not too specific, although woodland gardens tend to have more acidic soil. Fertilizing only needs to be done at the beginning of the spring as new growth emerges. A well balanced, slow release fertilizer is recommended.
Pruning of Red Bandit is best done after blooming in the summer. The compact growth habit of this Mountain Laurel will keep the need for regular pruning to a minimum. This deciduous shrub will benefit from a 2-3 inch mulch of organic compost or leaves in the fall.
Red Bandit Mountain Laurel Spacing
Red Bandit Mountain Laurel has a height of 4-5 feet and a width of 4-5 feet. When planting as an informal hedge or as a mass planting, a spacing of 4 feet center on center will ensure proper air circulation. Mountain Laurel also makes for interesting container grown plants. A pot with at least a 24 inch diameter is recommended, filled with a rich potting soil with regular watering.
Red Bandit Mountain Laurel Plant Facts
Growing Conditions
- Hardiness ZonesGrowing Zones
- USDA Zones 4 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
- Part Shade to Part Sun (3-6 Hours Direct Sun)
- Mature Height
- 4-5 Feet
- Mature Spread
- 4-5 Feet
- Growth Habit
- , Upright
- Water Needs
- Consistently Moist
Flowers & Foliage
- Flower Colors
- , Pink, Red
- Flower Description
- Pink, Red
- 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
- Green
- Foliage Type
- , Evergreen
- Seasonal Interest
- , Spring Flowering, Summer Flowering
Garden Benefits
Plant Overview
- Common Name
- Red Bandit Mountain Laurel
- Botanical Name
- KALMIA LATIFOLIA 'RED BANDIT'
- 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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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.
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