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Key characteristics

Family: Ericaceae
Height: 5 to 15 feet
Width: 5 to 15 feet
Flower color: Pink to white, in showy clusters
Foliage color: Dark green, leathery leaves
Bloom time: Late spring to early summer
Light: Partial to full shade
Water: Moderate
Maintenance: Low, prune after flowering if needed to maintain shape
Growing zone: USDA Zones 4 to 9
Wildlife: Attracts bees, hummingbirds, and butterflies

Shrubs

Kalmia latifolia

Mountain Laurel

Kalmia latifolia, commonly known as mountain laurel, is a broadleaf evergreen shrub admired for its clusters of delicate, cup-shaped flowers. Blooming in late spring to early summer, the flowers range in color from soft pink to white, often adorned with intricate red or maroon markings. The blooms are held above glossy, dark green foliage, creating a graceful contrast that enhances its ornamental appeal.

Native to the eastern United States, mountain laurel is a cherished species in woodland and naturalistic landscapes.

Light

Partial to full shade

Water

Moderate

Bloom time

Late spring to early summer

Find this plant

Works well in

Woodland Gardens
Native Gardens
Pollinator Gardens
Hummingbird Gardens

Companion plants

Pieris · Hakone grass · Bamboo · Viburnum · Snowdrop · Bergenia

Design tip

Use mountain laurel to bring flowering interest into a shaded, evergreen planting. Its clusters of pink-to-white flowers rise above glossy dark green foliage in late spring to early summer, providing seasonal color while the evergreen leaves maintain structure throughout the year.

Printable plant sheet (PDF)