631-289-3500 Main Office A month later only 4 green leaves remain. The mountain-laurel can be expected to grow in Hardiness Zones 4–9. All parts of Kalmia latifolia are poisonous if ingested and can cause severe digestive upset and other alarming, though usually nonfatal, symptoms such as weakness and paralysis. Not all animals are affectedâdeer, unfortunately, are apparently immune to any ill effects and can be vigorous consumers of mountain laurel foliage. Will the house be in good condition or will I spend my vacation dealing with issues? Texas Mountain Laurel trees (Sophora secundiflora) are a favorite flowering tree throughout the Southwest, and it's one that is sure to add curb appeal! Are hummingbirds attracted to mountain laurel? When applying fertilizer, spread it carefully over the soil, keeping it away from the trunk. The nursery said that this was normal. It grows slowly from 8 to 15 feet tall with a 6 to 10 foot spread. This mountain log cabin combines the luxuries of home with real mountain living! Use 2 level cups for a Texas mountain laurel with a 1-inch-trunk diameter. www.bissettnursery.com, Barton Nurseries Comments are moderated and will be posted after BBG staff review. Slow growing, it can reach up to 30 feet (15 m.) in height with a spread of 15 feet (4.5 m.), but it often stays much smaller than that. In south-central Texas, mountain laurel is commonly found on well-drained Hill Country limestone. Booking a rental home can feel like a bit of an unsettling mystery. They were doing well but (sad to say) many were neglected during a multi-year drought. Advance tickets are required. Mountain Laurel Lodge. The Garden has reopened! 203-288-1026 800-845-1124 949 New Durham Road Mountain laurel is hard to reproduce. Here are just a few of his enticing creations: ‘Elf’ is a dwarf that grows 3 feet (1 m.) tall with pale pink or white blossoms. 732-833-0613 'Pink Charm' (Mountain Laurel) Evergreen, deep pink flowers, #3 - Size Container 4.2 out of 5 stars 20 $71.50 $ 71 . The narrow plots typically found behind most brownstones and row houses get little light due to neighboring trees and adjacent buildings, so using showy plants that require hours of full sun is not realistic. Mountain Laurel is an evergreen plant that grows naturally in eastern North America. The leaves are 3–12 cm long and 1–4 cm wide. This family includes rhododendrons, azaleas, blueberries, and cranberries, all of which are woody shrubs that thrive in moist, well-drained acidic soil. Produces flowers that vary in color from white to pink-rose to deep rose--all with unique purple markings--and measure up to 1" in diameter. Mountain Laurel is regarded as an evergreen shrub with an average height of 15 to 20 feet. Allentown, New Jersey 08501 Mountain laurel (Kalmia latifolia) is flowering broadleaf evergreen shrub with a multi-stemmed growth habit. 800-503-9624 Please keep your comments relevant to this article. Named for one of the most beautiful plants in the Smokies, MOUNTAIN LAUREL LODGE gives you a true mountain experience. Loads of red buds open light pink with a unique maroon band in late May. In spring it can be seen blooming abundantly along the Blue Ridge Parkway in North Carolina and, closer to New York City, in the forests of upstate New York, notably near Lake Minnewaska, in Ulster County. Mountain laurel is slow growing, and at maturity, it averages 6 to 15 feet in height and width; dwarf cultivars top out at 3 to 4 feet. Deadheading also helps to prevent legginess. If you love Mountain Laurel or want to try the for the first time, be sure to plant them very high and use well draining soil so that thier roots do not stay wet as they will rot very quickly. Second year, 22 leaves 1 flower. Mountain laurel will grow in USDA Zones 5 to 9 in deep shade to full sun, but it does best in moderate to partial shade. No help from the nursery. A member of the blueberry family, this evergreen blooms in May and June with round clusters of white to light pink star-shaped flowers. www.pleasantrunnursery.com, Bissett Nursery It grows to about 3–18 feet (1–6 metres) in height and has oval leaves. www.rarefindnursery.com, Broken Arrow Nursery One often overlooked option is mountain laurel (Kalmia latifolia). Plant of the Week. PO Box 50, Route 63 If the flowers are not deadheaded, nondescrip… There are many different cultivars, flower colors, and … Texas Mountain Laurel. This shade-tolerant North American shrub has gorgeous flowers that bloom in late spring and early summer. Roots are fibrous and matted. It has beautiful spring blooms, and its elliptical, glossy deep-green leaves (resembling those of rhododendrons) and gnarled stems make it attractive in all seasons. Although it becomes almost as big as a tree in North America but is a shrub further north. Use this dwarf shrub around the edges of tree canopies, among acid-loving woodland plants, or as a foundation plant along building walls and fences. Litchfield, Connecticut 06759 We are beginning beekeepers and we were warned during a seminar that honey from mountain laurel can be toxic to humans. First year they lost most of their leaves. Autumn Leaves: Should You Collect Them or Leave Them in Place? Mountain laurel, Kalmia latifolia, is a flowering shrub native to the eastern United States, found from north Florida to southern Maine. Its multiple trunks support a disperse canopy of glossy green leaves. All parts of the plant are poisonous. Too-bright sun can cause scorching of the leaves. The bell-like flowers have a very unusual way of dispensing pollen. Questions about the purple-blue blooms hanging in clusters and having the wonderful scent of grape chewing gum have begun! Mountain laurel is also part of the amazing flower display that takes place at Brooklyn Botanic Garden every spring and can be found in the Discovery Garden, Japanese Hill-and-Pond Garden, and Native Flora Garden. What can we say? A close relative of rhododendrons and azaleas, itâs an excellent choice for a shady garden. In addition to being tolerant of shade, Kalmia latifolia produces exquisite clusters of delicate, fused-petal blossoms that resemble tiny origami rice bowls.