Kalmiopsis fragrans

Dwarf evergreen shrublets one to two feet in height. The small, oval to rounded leaves are deep green above, glistening glandular scaly beneath. The bell-shaped flowers (mid-spring) are rose to purplish red in terminal and axillary clusters. They are quite attractive and somewhat reminiscent of the flowers of Kalmia. Extremely rare in the wild, this plant is found only along the Umpqua River in SW Oregon where it occurs on boulders, cliffs and open slopes. Rare in cultivation, requiring extremely well-drained soil with bright light but protection from hot afternoon sun. These are cutting-grown from our own excellent clones in the RSBG Alpine Garden. These are dwarf and compact, floriferous, and seemingly long-lived plants. Long known as the “Umpqua form” of the closely related K. leachiana.