FNPS Plant Database

Kalmia latifolia

mountain laurel

PHOTOS COMING SOON!

Nomenclature

Common Name:

mountain laurel

Synonym(s):

Genus species:

Kalmia latifolia

Family:

Ericaceae

Plant Specifics

Form:

shrub

Size:

7-10 (15) ft tall by 5-8 ft wide

Life Span:

Long-lived perennial

Flower Color:

white,pink

Fruit Color:

brown

Phenology:

Evergreen. Blooms in spring.

Noted For:

Showy Flowers, Interesting Foliage

Landscaping

Recommended Uses:

Specimen plant or natural background screen.

Considerations:

Availability:

Quality Nurseries, Native Nurseries, FNPS Plant Sales, Seed

Propagation:

Light:

Part Sun, Shade

Moisture Tolerance:

Always Flooded------------------------------------------------Extremely Dry

Coming Soon!

Usually moist, occasional inundation ---to--- Not wet but not extremely dry

Salt Water Flooding Tolerance:

Unknown

Salt Spray/Salty Soil Tolerance:

Low/no tolerance of salty wind or direct salt spray

Soil or Other Substrate:

Sand, Loam

Soil pH:

Acidic

Suitable to Grow In:

8A,8B,9A

USDA zones are based on the average annual extreme minimum winter temperature.



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Ecology

Wildlife:

Pollinators, Mammals

Pollinated by bees.  Stamens will suddenly "snap" out of pockets in the petals and hit the insect with its load of pollen.

Cover for birds and mammals. Deer browse the foliage. 

Native Habitats:

Moist sites. Acid soils. Upland hardwood forest, slope forest , banks of seep streams, bluffs.

Natural Range in Florida:

Comments:

Ethnobotany:

General Comments:

Citations:

Haehle, Robert G. and Joan Brookwell.  1999.  Native Florida Plants.  Gulf Publishing Company.  Houston, TX.



University of Tennessee Extension Service.  Desired Ph Range and salt tolerance of common nursery plants.    https://extension.tennessee.edu/mtnpi/Documents/handouts/Fertility/Desired-pH-Range-List.pdf   accessed 2021.



Wunderlin, R. P., B. F. Hansen, A. R. Franck, and F. B. Essig. 2021. Atlas of Florida Plants ( https://florida.plantatlas.usf.edu /).  Institute for Systematic Botany, University of South Florida, Tampa.

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