Lovely Mountain Laurel

Mountain Laurel Shrubs ‘Laurus nobilis’ are related to rhododendrons and azaleas, but are not related to bay Laurel or Kalmia latifolia. They are evergreens, like rhodos and azaleas and have lovely glossy green leaves so the shrub is attractive in all seasons.  Native to eastern US, Mountain Laurel grows best in acidic, moist but well drained soil, and like their relative, Mountain laurel prefer shade to part shade and a sheltered spot in the garden. They are zoned 5-9 and some varieties 4-9 and are fairly hardy in the right spot.They are about 5-8 feet in height, but there are shorter dwarfs available. Like rhododendrons, Mountain laurel prefers to be crowned when planting, which means the root base, is slightly raised instead of being planted deep. Otherwise the roots can rot if kept too moist. Because they are also best in acidic soil it’s a good idea to plant with some peat moss and also to mulch with acid mulch such as pine needles or wood chips. These both add to acidity when they break down. Since they don’t transplant well, it’s best to buy them at a nursery as opposed to digging them from the wild. [As they are not native to our area this is unlikely to be an option anyway]  Transplanting in ones own garden will tend to slow them down considerably. I know this first hand, since I moved mine twice and it is only this year that I finally had it produce flowers. Since they are so lovely it was worth waiting for. Mountain laurel usually doesn’t require pruning unless it is to contain it to specifics of your landscape. Simply pinch off seed heads for better flowers next year. Fertilize with an acidic type fertilizer in early spring and late fall.  Fertilizing too late in the season can encourage new growth that won’t be mature enough for fall, so should be avoided. Mountain laurels have lovely floral displays, with flowers that stand upright above the leaves. Clusters open gradually and last well. The flowers have 5 outer points but 10 star-like points within the flower, and come in a range of colors from white to burgundy. There are lots of varieties including dwarf and semi-dwarf to choose from. Sophora secundiflora is a newer variety that grows better in hot climates. Other varieties include ‘Elf’, with soft pink buds that open to white; semi-dwarf growth of about 3 ft. ‘Keepsake’ that has soft red buds, opening to burgundy, with white edges and grows approximately 4-5 feet in height. ‘Little Linda’ is a dwarf  that has red flower buds opening to pink and a height of about 2 ½ to 3 ft. ‘Olympic Fire’ sounds interesting with buds that are bright red opening to pink flowers that fade to white. It is 4-6 feet tall. There are of course many more varieties and if you are looking for companion plants to your rhododendrons or azaleas I am sure one of them would be perfect. Lindi Karmason

 

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