General Plant Information (Edit)
Plant Habit: Shrub
Life cycle: Perennial
Sun Requirements: Full Sun
Full Sun to Partial Shade
Full Shade
Water Preferences: Mesic
Soil pH Preferences: Strongly acid (5.1 – 5.5)
Moderately acid (5.6 – 6.0)
Slightly acid (6.1 – 6.5)
Minimum cold hardiness: Zone 4a -34.4 °C (-30 °F) to -31.7 °C (-25 °F)
Maximum recommended zone: Zone 8b
Plant Height: 2 to 3 feet
Plant Spread: 2 to 4 feet
Leaves: Evergreen
Broadleaf
Fruit: Dehiscent
Other: Small brown capsules containing numerous seeds.
Flowers: Showy
Blooms on old wood
Flower Color: White
Other: Light pink buds open to white flowers
Bloom Size: Under 1"
Flower Time: Late spring or early summer
Uses: Windbreak or Hedge
Provides winter interest
Cut Flower
Wildlife Attractant: Bees
Butterflies
Resistances: Deer Resistant
Rabbit Resistant
Toxicity: Other: All parts of plant are toxic.
Propagation: Other methods: Cuttings: Stem
Layering
Pollinators: Bumblebees
Bees
Containers: Suitable in 3 gallon or larger
Needs excellent drainage in pots

Image
Common names
  • Mountain Laurel

Photo Gallery
Location: Botanical Gardens of the State of Georgia...Athens, Ga
Date: 2014-05-22
Mountain Laural 020
Location: Fellows Riverside Gardens, Youngstown, Ohio
Date: 2017-05-31
Mountain Laurel 005
Location: Northwest NJ
Date: 2016-06-07
Location: Pickens County, South Carolina
Date: 2017-04-27
Mountain Laural 006
Location: Rhode Island, US
Date: 2020-06-09

photo credit: David J. Stang

photo credit: Captain-tucker

photo credit: David J. Stang
Location: Silver Spring, MD
Date: 2014-05-23
Location: Maryland
Date: 2015-05-20
Comments:
  • Posted by Catmint20906 (PNW WA half hour south of Olympia - Zone 8a) on Aug 23, 2014 8:12 PM concerning plant:
    Mountain Laurel (Kalmia latifolia 'Elf') is an attractive flowering shrub native to eastern North America. 'Elf' is a dwarf variety that only grows to 3 to 4 feet tall. The distinctive five-sided, cup-shaped flowers bloom from late spring to early summer. The blossoms of 'Elf' are pink buds, which open to nearly white blooms. Kalmia latifolia is a larval host plant for the laurel sphinx moth.
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Catmint20906 On May 17, 2015 Bloomed
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