Mountain Laurel
(Kalmia latifolia)
Adopted on April 17,
1907.
Designated as the State
Flower by the General
Assembly in 1907, the
Mountain Laurel, Kalmia
latifolia, is
perhaps the most beautiful
of native American shrubs.
Its fragrance and the massed
richness of its white and
pink blossoms so vividly
contrast with the darker
colors of the forests and
the fields that they have
continually attracted the
attention of travelers since
the earliest days of our
colonization. First
mentioned in John Smith's
"General History," in 1624
specimens were sent to
Linnaeus, the famous
botanist, by the Swedish
explorer Peter Kalm in 1750.
Linnaeus gave it the name
of Kalmia latifolia,
honoring the name his
correspondent and at the
same time describing the
"wide-leafed" characteristic
of the plant. In addition to
being called the "Mountain
Laurel," the plant has also
been spoken of as "Calico
Bush" and "Spoonwood."
Mountain Laurel is
ideally suited as a
landscape accent, informal
hedge or border where its
flowers can be enjoyed. It
is best for natural
landscapes and other
low-maintenance gardens
where it can be allowed to
grow to its natural size.
Grows 4-6" per year.
- Leaf:
Alternate, simple,
evergreen, shiny/waxy
above, light green
below, 2 to 5 inches
long, elliptical in
shape, mid-vein raised
on upper surfaces.
- Flower: Very
showy clusters, white to
rose colored with purple
markings, 1 inch across,
with the petals forming
a distinct firm bowl
about the pistil and
stamens. Present March
to July.
- Fruit: A
round, brown dehiscent
capsule, 1/4 inch long,
splitting into 5 valves
when dry; releasing very
small seeds. Maturing in
September and October.
- Twig:
Generally forked and
twisted, green when
young, later
brownish-red.
- Bark: Thin,
dark brown to red in
color, shredding.
- Form: A small
tree or shrub with many
twisted stems.
Taxonomic
Hierarchy
|
Kingdom |
Plantae --
Plants |
Subkingdom |
Tracheobionta --
Vascular plants |
Superdivision |
Spermatophyta --
Seed plants |
Division |
Magnoliophyta --
Flowering plants |
Class |
Magnoliopsida --
Dicotyledons |
Subclass |
Dilleniidae
– |
Order |
Ericales – |
Family |
Ericaceae –
Heath family |
Genus |
Kalmia L.
– laurel |
Species |
Kalmia
latifolia L.
– mountain
laurel |
|