Kalmia latifolia 'Snowdrift' is a commonly known as Mountain Laurel, which is native in parts of the East Coast. This compact form is planted in the back of Ed's perennial border, where it will eventually provide an evergreen backdrop when the herbaceous border dies down for the winter. Kalmia is slow grower in general and we have found them to either thrive or suffer in the Northwest. Having talked with growers back east, we were told that Kalmia in their native habitat form symbiotic relationships with mycorrhizal fungi (which help with food intake), and that not all of our soil contains these soil microbes. Quite a few new hybrids are on the market and there are many color forms available.