The flowers of this acid-loving native shrub look like inverted parasols.
It grows in a large, rounded, dense mound, sometimes as a small tree.
The dark green foliage remains on the plant all year.
Old branches are often contorted, cracked, or crooked.
Mountain laurel has been a popular ornamental since the early 18th century.
It made its way to England and was bred there before being reintroduced to the United States.
Today there are more than 75 cultivars of mountain laurel.
The plant is toxic to humans and pets.If honeybees feed on the flowers, the honey is also toxic.
Use this flowering shrub as an accent in a native landscape, butterfly, or pollinator garden.
Dwarf varieties of mountain laurel make good container plants.
The plant has a high flammabilty rating so plant it at a safe distance from your home.
How and When to Plant Mountain Laurel
Plant mountain laurel between early spring and early summer.
Dig a hole at least twice the size of the root ball and just as deep.
Space the shrubs at least 6 feet apart, depending on the variety.
Dwarf varieties or mass plantings can be spaced as little as 4 feet apart.
Apply a 2-inchlayer of mulcharound the base of the shrub to conserve soil moisture.
It tolerates a hot, humid climate but not hot arid conditions.
If the shrub is leggy, prune it in the late winter to encourage a more compact growth.
Cut the tallest branch back to the height of the other branches and remove any weak, late-season growth.
Use potting mix for acid-loving plants.
Pests and Problems
Mountain laurel attracts borers, scale insects, white flies, and lace bugs.
Potential diseases include leaf spots and blights.
How to Propagate Mountain Laurel
Mountain laurel is bestpropagated from cuttingsin the summer.
Take a 6-inch cutting of new growth and remove the bottom leaves.
Keep the cutting evenly moist in a location out of direct sunlight.
Rooting takes 4 to 6 months.
It has large pink buds that open to nearly white flowers.
It grows 3 feet tall and 4 feet wide.
It grows 3 feet tall and wide.
It grows 10 feet tall and wide.
It grows 10 feet tall and wide.
It grows 10 feet tall and wide.
It grows 3 feet tall and wide.
These blossoms later give way to bluish-black berries that wildlife love.
The spreading and clumping habit of this plant makes it an excellent groundcover for shady spots.
Its flowers attract butterflies and bees.
Goatsbeard plants like part shade and need shelter from the hot afternoon sun.
They can only tolerate full sun in the northern range of their hardiness.
Zone 3-8
Wintergreen
Wintergreenoverflows with interest year-round.
This perennial evergreen makes a colorful groundcover around shade-loving shrubs for a low-maintenance garden.
The attractive leaves are paired with white flowers in summer and bright red berries and reddish-bronze foliage in fall.
Zone 3-8
Frequently Asked Questions
The shrub needs to be at least three years old to bloom.
Mountain laurel is toxic when ingested but safe to touch.
As a precaution, however, it is a good idea to wear protective gloves when handling plants.
Mountain laurel may live for 70 years or more when well cared for.
Updated by Nadia Hassani
Mountain Laurel.ASPCA.
Kalmia latifolia.North Carolina State University Cooperative Extension.
