Native to the eastern United States and often found on mountainsides or steep hilly
sites and usually found large masses, Mountain Laurels are evergreen shrubs that
have bright clusters of flowers in cheery pinks and whites, and bright glossy green
foliage. Mountains Laurels usually grow to about 6-8 feet in height but there are
also dwarf varieties that grow 3-5 feet in height. Although Mountain Laurels are
plentiful in the wild, they have not always been commonly grown in gardens and are
only recently becoming increasingly popular in the home garden as new cultivars are
becoming more widely available. The cultivars can achieve a 10 foot height and are
available in a wide range of floral colors, including: white, crimson, pink, pale
pink, and white with bands of color such as wine-purple. They flower between April
and June, and vary from bell to star shaped and are quite stunning. Although the
plants are beautiful they are also poisonous and should be kept away from pets and
children.
Culture
Mountain Laurel will grow in zones 4-9 and are not difficult to grow. They do not
like full sun, and indeed, prefer shade with jut a bit of sun to encourage flowering.
If you plant Mountain Laurel in a very hot area, you should consider planting it
in the shade and expect to water often. Mountain Laurels prefer a soil PH of 4 to
6.5. --which is acidic—and prefer well drained and moist soil conditions. You may
be able to accomplish this by adding humus, peat moss and sand. After planting Mountain
Laurel, mulch well to conserve moisture. Do not plant too deeply and make sure the
mountain laurel plant's "crown" (where its trunk meets its roots) is not buried.
Buried crowns will suffer from rot, and your shrub could die.
Care
Mountain Laurels do not need to be pruned, but you can deadhead the flowers to encourage
future growth and flowering for next season. If your plant gets too large for your
garden, cut them almost to the ground to renew them for next year’s growth. Within
a few years you will have a healthy, full and growing plant. Upon initial planting,
water Mountain Laurel’s generously, after they are established, water during dry
spells. Mountain Laurels only need to be fertilized once a year.
Use a fertilizer for acid-loving plants. Re-apply a 2-3 layer of mulch to protect
roots and conserve moisture each spring. Mountain Laurel can be susceptible to winter
burn if growing in an unprotected area. Using burlap or protective screen will help
prevent this. With little care, you will have a beautiful plant that comes back year
after year with beautiful blooms.
down to the ground. Because lilacs are hardy plants, the remaining portion will
send out new shoots during the growing season.
Mountain laurel bushes are sometimes confused with bay laurel trees (Laurus nobilis),
the small Mediterranean trees prominent in history and literature.
