SCIENTIFIC NAME: Kalmia latifolia

COMMON NAME: mountain laurel

FLOWERS: White, lavender, pink, or red in the spring depending on the cultivar.

GROWTH HABIT: Shrub that grows 10' to 15' tall.

LEAVES: Waxy and alternate with reddish petiole when in full sun. Has an entire margin and the mid-vein is the only obvious vein. Foliage is poisonous to animals particularly cows.

OTHER: Native to the eastern United States and is very hard to transplant out of the wild. Only use container grown stock when putting into the landscape. Hardy to zone 4. Is in the azalea (Ericaceae) family so it likes acid soils and full sun to part shade.