# Mountain Laurel (*Mycosphaerella colorata (Peck) Earle*) Mountain Laurel is a lovely shrub with beautiful pink flowers. It blooms in spring and attracts butterflies and bees! - **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant) - **Rarity:** Rare - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 151 - **Habitat:** Woodlands and mountains - **Also known as:** Calico Bush, Carolina Wicky, Kalmia, Spoonwood ![Mountain Laurel](https://res.cloudinary.com/drieglelr/image/upload/v1771425833/objects/5071.jpg) ## Appearance The Mountain Laurel is an evergreen shrub with glossy, dark green leaves. It boasts clusters of distinctive cup-shaped flowers, typically white, pink, or deep rose, often adorned with purple markings inside. Its elegant blooms and leathery foliage make it stand out in woodlands. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Ascomycota - **Class:** Magnoliopsida - **Order:** Ericales - **Family:** Ericaceae - **Genus:** Kalmia ## Interesting facts - Early American settlers used its extremely hard wood to make small tools. - Its scientific name, Kalmia latifolia, honors the botanist Pehr Kalm. - Mountain Laurel is the state flower of Pennsylvania, not just Connecticut! - The unique shape of its flowers has earned it nicknames like 'calico-bush'. ## Special abilities - **Spring-Loaded Pollen:** Mountain Laurel has special stamens that are spring-loaded, flinging pollen onto visiting insects to ensure pollination. - **Toxic Defense:** Mountain Laurel produces toxic compounds in all its parts, helping it defend against most hungry animals. - **Acid Soil Adaptability:** Mountain Laurel can thrive in very acidic, rocky soils where many other plants struggle to grow. ## Measurements & details - **Height:** 150-400 cm - **Spread:** 150-300 cm - **Flower Size:** 1.5-2.5 cm - **Bloom Season:** Late spring to early summer - **Edible:** No - **Toxicity:** High - **Lifecycle:** Perennial - **Pollination Method:** Insect ## Ecological connections - **Pollinates:** Common Eastern Bumblebee (*Bombus impatiens*) — These bees visit flowers for nectar and pollen. - **Pollinates:** Honeybee (*Apis mellifera*) — Honeybees help spread pollen between blooms. - **Shelter:** [Blue Jay](https://www.snappit.app/explore/blue-jay) (*Cyanocitta cristata*) — Birds may use dense foliage for nesting and cover. ## Traits - [Shrub](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/shrub): A shrub is a woody plant smaller than a tree, typically with multiple stems branching from or near the ground. - [Spring Blooming](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/spring-blooming): Spring blooming plants produce their flowers during the spring season, often signifying the end of winter and the start of new growth. - [Evergreen](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/evergreen): Evergreen plants retain their foliage throughout the year, never shedding all their leaves at once. - [Fragrant Flower](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/fragrant-flower): Fragrant flowers emit a pleasant aroma, often to attract pollinators or for defense. - [Pollinator Magnet](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator-magnet): Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms. - [Mountain](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/mountain): This habitat trait identifies species found in mountainous regions, characterized by high elevation, steep slopes, and varying climate zones. - [Forest](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/forest): Forest habitats are terrestrial environments dominated by dense tree cover, supporting a high diversity of plant and animal life. ## Collections - [Grasses](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/grasses) - [Grasses, Shrubs & Bushes](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/grasses-shrubs-and-bushes) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Explore with care and ask an adult if you’re unsure what to do. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Mountain Laurel? Start with the whole plant, then compare leaf arrangement, leaf edges, stems and any flowers or fruit. Opposite leaves grow in pairs; alternate leaves come one at a time along the stem. These details tell you far more together than a single green leaf does. Plant Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How tall is Mountain Laurel? 150-400 cm ### How wide does Mountain Laurel spread? 150-300 cm ### How big are the flowers on Mountain Laurel? 1.5-2.5 cm ### When does Mountain Laurel bloom? Late spring to early summer ### Is Mountain Laurel edible? No ### Is Mountain Laurel toxic? High ### What is Mountain Laurel's lifecycle? Perennial ## Where to spot - [Advance Mills](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/advance-mills) — Virginia, US · Neighborhood - [Ambler Heights Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/ambler-heights-historic-district) — Ohio, US · Historic District - [Americus Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/americus-historic-district) — Georgia, US · Historic District - [Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/arrowmont-school-of-arts-and-crafts) — Tennessee, US · Campus - [Bald Eagle State Forest](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/bald-eagle-state-forest) — Pennsylvania, US · Forest - [Bear Meadows Natural Area](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/bear-meadows-natural-area) — Pennsylvania, US · Nature Reserve [View all places to see Mountain Laurel](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/mountain-laurel) ## More Plants - [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*) - [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*) - [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*) - [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*) --- Source: [Mountain Laurel: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/mountain-laurel)