Mountain laurel is native in several counties along eastern Ohio, as far north as Holmes county. The flowers of this plant are very showy and plentiful. Mountain laurel can grow in shady conditions, is easy to transplant and prefers moist soils.
Mountain laurel was labeled by Dr. Emma Lucy Braun as "one of America's most beautiful shrubs." Michael Dirr says that the flowers of this shrub are "individually the most beautiful flower I know of, especially as the buds are opening."
| Scientific Name | Kalmia latifolia | Rhododendron maximum | Rhododendron roseum |
|---|---|---|---|
| Common Name | mountain laurel | rosebay rhododendron | northern roseshell azalea |
| Height | 5-8' | 8-12' | |
| Ohio Distribution | southeast | southcentral | southcentral and northeast |
| Habitat | boggy areas, acidic soils | deep ravines, acidic soils | acidic soils, in oak woods |
| Features | Dark, shiny, leathery leaves; moist, cool, acidic, well-drained soils. Shade tolerant, but flowers better in sun. | Large, leathery leaves; intolerant of poor drainage. Best in shaded, moist, acidic soils. | Fragrant flowers. Occurs in patches. |
| Availability | trade | trade | specialty |
| Flower Season and Color/Fall Foliage Color | flower: spring/Su; pink-white | flower: spring/Su; white-pink | flower: spring/summer; pink |
KEY: = RED denotes plant is toxic to humans. Features: *(x) = a food or cover benefit for...*(bf) = butterflies, *(bf-l) = butterfly larvae, *(w) = wildlife; *(bd) = songbirds; *(be) honeybees; *(hb) = hummingbirds. "Do not disturb in the wild." = plant is endangered (!!), threatened (!), or potentially threatened (.)