Varieites of Mountain Laurel: Selection Guide for Your Garden

The mountain laurel is one of the most beautiful and versatile wildflowers that are native to North America. These plants are not only wildflowers, but they are also evergreen shrubs. Other names given to mountain laurel plants include ivy bush, calico bush and spoonwood. Mountain laurel come from the same plant family as blueberries, huckleberries and azaleas.

These wildflowers can be used as a decorative plant or as a functional screening or edging plant. Mountain laurels are so beautiful that they have been named the state flower of both Connecticut and Pennsylvania.

Mountain Laurel - Kalmia latifolia

The most common variety of this plant species is basic mountain laurel. Mountain laurel is naturally found in rocky outcrops, hillsides and in mountainous areas of the country. They prefer soil that is a bit sandy or rocky and that is well drained. They can thrive in both full sun and in partial shade. The flowers on this variety of mountain laurel are pink and white. The flowers are waxy and look like delicate teacups. This is an evergreen plant, which means it will keep its dark green leaves throughout the year. However, the flowers will only be present for a couple of months during late spring and early summer.

Pink Mountain Laurel

Pink mountain laurel have many of the same characteristics as the common mountain laurel. They are an evergreen plant with dark green oval leaves. They bloom in late spring and early summer. And they are a pink mountain species of wildflower.

This variety of mountain laurel is very short, growing to less than 12 inches tall. However, they have an amazing spread of over ten feet. The pink mountain laurel thrives in hardiness zones five through eight and prefers soils with pH levels of between four and 6.5.

Texas Mountain Laurel

Everything is bigger in Texas and the Texas Mountain Laurel is proof of this. This variety of mountain laurel has the ability to grow up to 25 feet tall and it can have a spread of nearly 50 feet. This variety of mountain laurel has a primarily white teacup shaped flower that appears in late spring. It prefers warmer climates and will thrive in hardiness zones 7B through 10 A. It is going to grow the best when in full sun or partial shade and it will do the best in soil with good drainage. You do not want to overwater this variety of mountain laurel.