Carolina Nature

Trees, Shrubs, and Woody Vines of North Carolina

Mountain-Laurel (Kalmia latifolia)

Plantae>Magnoliophyta>Magnoliopsida>Ericales>Ericaceae>Kalmia latifolia L.

Mountain-Laurel (Kalmia latifolia)

Mountain-Laurel is an evergreen large shrub or small tree, common in the Mountains, uncommon on north-facing slopes in the Piedmont, and rare in the Coastal Plain of North Carolina.

Pilot Mountain, Surry Co., NC 5/16/10.

Mountain-Laurel (Kalmia latifolia)

Unopened flower buds are pinkish.

Alleghany Co., NC 5/29/05.

Mountain-Laurel (Kalmia latifolia)

Mountain-Laurels produce showy clusters of 10-parted white to pink flowers in early-mid May in the Durham area.

Chatham Co., NC 5/11/2003.

Mountain-Laurel (Kalmia latifolia)

Chatham Co., NC 5/11/2003.

Mountain-Laurel (Kalmia latifolia)

Orange Co., NC 5/18/08.

Mountain-Laurel (Kalmia latifolia)

Orange Co., NC 5/18/08.

Mountain-Laurel (Kalmia latifolia) flowers

Grayson Co., VA 5/30/2009.

Mountain-Laurel (Kalmia latifolia) flowers

Grayson Co., VA 5/30/2009.

Mountain-Laurel (Kalmia latifolia)

Developing fruits.

Pilot Mountain, Surry Co., NC 6/14/09.

Tenaciously hanging on for survival in a cliffside crack.

Pilot Mountain, Surry Co., NC 5/16/10.

Mountain-Laurel (Kalmia latifolia)

The leathery evergreen leaves slightly resemble those of the unrelated laurel (Laurus nobilis) of Europe, but are very poisonous.

Orange Co., NC 3/30/05.

Mountain-Laurel (Kalmia latifolia)

Bark detail.

Orange Co., NC 3/30/05.

More information:
Connecticut Botanical Society
Trees of Alabama and the Southeast
University of Connecticut
Virginia Tech Dendrology

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