Kalmia hirsuta Walter

Hairy Wicky; Hairy Laurel; Sweet Wicky

Shrub

Perennial

Vascular

Hairy Wicky is a native evergreen shrub in the Heath family (Ericaceae). It is native to the southernmost counties in Alabama. Hairy Wicky grows in pine flatwoods, bogs, and White Cedar swamps. It is a straggly shrub, rarely reaching more than three feet in height. Typically it is somewhat decumbent and intertwined with other vegetation. The twigs have long, spreading hairs. Leaves are alternate, sessile, elliptic to ovate in outline, with revolute margins (turned under). The leaves are densely to sparsely pubescent with long hairs. Flowers are solitary or 2-3 per leaf axil on new growth. Flowers are campanulate and vary in color from white through pale pink, to dark pink or lavender. The flowers may be marked with red dots. The tips of the stamens are inserted into pockets on the corolla until “sprung” by a passing insect. The fruit is a capsule with many tiny seed. Hairy Wicky is listed as a S2 species in Alabama (typically 6 to 20 occurrences, few remaining individuals, acres, or miles of stream, or factors demonstrably making it very vulnerable in the state). Due to its small size and gangly growth habitat, Hairy Wicky is not often available commercially. A few nurseries that specialize in native Azaleas and other Ericaceous plants sometimes have it as well as some nurseries that sell bog plants. Hairy Wicky prefers full to partial sun and a moist, acidic soil.--A. Diamond

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Native FACW- (NWPL) S2 (State Rank) G5 (Global Rank)

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