Mountain Laurel
(Kalmia latifolia)
Adopted on May 5, 1933.
The Mountain Laurel,
Kalmia latifolia, is the
state flower, as enacted by the
General Assembly on May 5, 1933.
The mountain laurel is in
full bloom in mid-June, when
Pennsylvania's woodlands are
filled with its distinctive pink
flower, a sight which delighted
members of the Pennsylvania
House and Senate as well as the
wife of Pennsylvania governor
Gifford Pinchot. Together, they
prevailed over Pinchot's
preference for the azalea to
name the Mountain Laurel as the
official state flower.
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 |
|