sand myrtle
Kalmia buxifolia
RHS AGM 1993
USDA zones6 to 8
SunHandles partial sun to full shade
WaterHandles moderate to moist soil
Size1 to 3 feet tall1 to 5 feet wide
- Growth rate
- Slow
- Habit
- Dense
- Bloom season
- Spring, summer
- Bloom color
- Pink, white
- Foliage color
- Green
- Soil types
- Sand, loam, clay
- Soil pH
- Acid, neutral
Garden uses
Attracts
Notes
Sand myrtle (Kalmia buxifolia) is a shrub for rock gardens, borders, containers, and woodland gardens. It is hardy to USDA zone 6, or down to -10°F (-23°C). This plant likes part sun to full shade and average to moist, sandy, loamy, or clay soil. Rose-colored buds open to white flowers tipped with pink in small clusters. The dark green evergreen leaves turn bronzy in cold weather. It does not tolerate drought, so keep the soil from drying out.
Pairs well with Foam flower, Christmas fern, and Japanese forest grass.
Native range
North America, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Prince Edward I., and 2 more places. See all 6
North America, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Prince Edward I., Québec, and Rhode I..