Laurel roses (Kalmia latifolia) are not yet often seen in our gardens. The ornamental shrub enchants every garden with its beautiful white and pink inflorescences. The plant is only partially hardy, but can survive frost with good winter protection.
Are laurel roses hardy?
Laurel roses (Kalmia latifolia) are conditionally hardy and can survive light frost. However, if there is severe frost, winter protection is necessary, such as layers of mulch, reed mats or brushwood. Young plants and potted plants require additional protection, such as foil or fleece.
Care for laurel roses in a protected location
Light frosts don't affect the laurel rose much. It's different if the plant is in an unprotected place where icy winds blow over in winter.
Find a favorable location for the laurel rose so that you can grow it in the garden all year round for many years:
- sunny to partially shaded, but bright
- in front of walls
- in valleys
- next to hedges or deciduous trees
You can also plant laurel roses as a hedge. The bushes then give each other some winter protection.
How to protect the laurel rose from severe frost
The laurel rose is only partially hardy in extremely cold storms. You should therefore provide additional winter protection in autumn, as you do not know in advance whether the winter will be mild or frosty.
Cover the soil with a thick layer of mulch. Mature compost, autumn leaves, straw or several layers of fir branches are suitable for this.
The above-ground parts of the laurel rose should be protected from cold winds with reed mats (€34.00 on Amazon) or brushwood.
Young laurel roses need extra winter protection
Very young laurel roses that were only planted in autumn particularly suffer from the cold. In the first year after planting, you should also protect the bushes from sub-zero temperatures with foil or fleece.
Overwintering laurel roses in the pot
If you don't have a suitable, protected location in the garden, simply plant the laurel rose in a pot. It doesn't get so expansive and is therefore well suited for keeping in a container.
The shrub can be easily overwintered in a pot. In winter, place it in a sheltered spot on the terrace or in a bright, frost-free basement. Don't forget to water the shrub again and again so that the soil doesn't dry out completely.
If you overwinter the laurel rose in a pot outside, place wood or Styrofoam under the pot and cover the plant in foil.
Tip
The laurel rose is not suitable for gardens with children and animals. Unfortunately, the evergreen shrub is poisonous in all parts of the plant.
