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Glite Dictionary
kalmia

kalmia

9.9
An evergreen shrub with pretty flowers often called mountain laurel from North America
  • noun
  • /ˈkælmiə/
  • Specialized
translation icon : kalmia
  • The garden features several kalmia bushes in full bloom during the spring.

Examples

  • Many hikers stopped to admire the wild kalmia growing along the mountain trail.

  • Because of its hardy nature, kalmia is popular in ornamental landscaping.

  • The kalmia plant blooms beautifully in spring.

  • Have you seen a kalmia in full bloom?

  • Many hikers stopped to admire the wild kalmia growing along the mountain trail.

  • The garden features several kalmia bushes in full bloom during the spring.

  • Because of its hardy nature, kalmia is popular in ornamental landscaping.

Synonyms

mountain laurel
vskalmia
  • US
6.1

An evergreen shrub with shiny leaves and clusters of pink or white flowers

is the formal botanical genus name for that group of evergreen shrubs

Compounds

bog kalmia
  • US
9.9

A low-growing shrub in bogs of the northwest United States with small purple flowers and pale blue-green leaves below

Kalmia angustifolia
  • Specialized
9.9

A small North American shrub with narrow leaves and red flowers that is poisonous to young farm animals

Kalmia latifolia
  • Specialized
9.9

An evergreen shrub with shiny leaves and white or pink flowers

Surface Forms

kalmia singular
kalmias plural

Etymology

Kalmia is the scientific name for mountain laurel and comes from the surname of a Swedish plant collector, Kalm. A helpful way to remember it is to think of kalmia as 'Kalm's plant', which explains why the name refers to these evergreen shrubs with showy flowers.