Mountain Laurels

Mountain laurel (Kalmia latifolia) is a broadleaf evergreen shrub native to eastern North America. It is known for glossy leaves, dense rounded form, and clusters of cup-shaped flowers in late spring, often patterned with contrasting bands or spots.

Garden selections range from compact dwarfs under three feet to full-size shrubs that reach eight feet or more, with flowers in white, pink, red, and bicolor.

Mountain laurel prefers partial shade and acidic, well-draining soil rich in organic matter, similar to the conditions where it grows wild along woodland edges. Morning sun with afternoon shade gives the best balance of bloom and leaf health.

Avoid heavy clay and wet sites. Where soil is alkaline, amend with pine bark or peat before planting and mulch with pine needles or shredded bark.

Both are acid-loving broadleaf evergreens that like similar sites and are often planted together. Mountain laurel has smaller, finer-textured leaves and distinctive cup-shaped flowers held in rounded clusters, while rhododendrons carry larger leaves and bigger trusses.

Mountain laurel usually blooms a little later, extending the season after most rhododendrons have finished.

Mountain laurel is generally rated as deer-resistant. Its leaves are toxic to browsing animals, so deer typically leave it alone even in areas where rhododendrons and azaleas get eaten.

Note that all parts of the plant are toxic if eaten, so site it with pets and livestock in mind.

Once established in the right site, mountain laurel is low-maintenance. Water deeply during the first season and in dry spells, keep a mulch layer over the roots, and avoid cultivating around the shallow root system.

Pruning is rarely needed beyond removing spent flower clusters and the occasional wayward branch after bloom.

Mountain laurel is a slow grower, typically adding a few inches to a foot per year depending on variety and conditions. Dwarf types stay compact for many years with little pruning.

Slow growth means a plant keeps its shape and scale in a foundation bed or border for a long time, which is one reason it is valued in designed landscapes.