Kalmia latifolia 'Pristine'

Pristine Mountain Laurel – A Rare White-Flowered Native from South Carolina

Kalmia latifolia ‘Pristine’ is a pure white-flowered selection of the beloved Mountain Laurel, a native broadleaf evergreen shrub cherished for its intricate blooms and year-round structure. This exceptional cultivar was discovered in Aiken County, South Carolina by the late Mrs. Ernestine Law, and was introduced to cultivation by Woodlanders as a distinctive, regional variation of one of the Eastern U.S.'s most iconic native shrubs.

Unlike the typical pink or rose-flushed forms of Kalmia latifolia, ‘Pristine’ opens in brilliant, clean white, creating a serene, luminous presence in the garden—especially striking when planted en masse or contrasted against darker evergreens. The flower buds emerge with a sculptural precision, forming elegant clusters in late spring to early summer.

Originally propagated through tissue culture, this selection is now grown from cuttings, ensuring clonal consistency and fidelity to its original form. It retains all the admired features of Mountain Laurel: glossy, leathery green leaves, a rounded, dense habit, and strong performance in acidic, well-drained soils with dappled sunlight.

Landscape Use: Woodland gardens, native borders, foundation plantings, collector gardens

Habitat: Acidic woodlands, rocky slopes, streambanks, and well-drained upland forests.

Ecoregions: Appalachian Mountains, Piedmont, and parts of the Atlantic Coastal Plain.