KALMIA, in botany, a genus of the monogynia order, belonging to the decandria class of plants. Of this genus there are two species; both of them hardy evergreen shrubs, growing four or five feet high; adorned with oval and spear-shaped entire leaves, and monopetalous five-parted flowers, of a pale or bright red colour, in close round bunches, appearing in June and July. They may be propagated either by seeds, suckers, or layers; and though natives of America, will succeed any where in the open ground in this country.