Mountain Laurel
As longtime residents and business owners in Connecticut, we are particularly partial to Mountain Laurel (Kalmia latifolia), the multi-stemmed broadleaf evergreen shrub that in late spring produces an eruption of cup-shaped blooms. The distinctive five-sided blossoms are the state flower here in Connecticut, and Pennsylvania claims them, too. The flower clusters cover rounded, variously mounding plants, creating a seasonal highlight in shrub borders, woodland gardens, and wild naturalized areas. The appeal of Mountain Laurel doesn’t end there. These carefree natives of the Eastern United States produce glossy, leathery, dark green foliage that has year-round appeal, making Kalmia latifolia a fine choice for foundation plantings. The plants grow well in organically rich, acid soil and do beautifully in the company of other woodland garden favorites including Rhododendrons and Azaleas. Mountain Laurel is pest-resistant. These shrubs grow best in part-shade, but they are tolerant of a range of light conditions including, in our experience, the shady north side of a two-story house. They require afternoon shade in the South.
The genus name dates back to the legendary Swedish botanist Carl Linnaeus, who christened it in honor of his student, Finnish botanist Pehr Kalm, who was sent to America by the Swedish government in 1747 and spent several years exploring the country’s plant life and natural resources. In Kalmia latifolia, he found a beauty.