MOUNTAIN LAUREL: A flowering shade evergreen!
A flowering evergreen that loves shade! Laurels are a great addition to your woodland garden! Broadleaf evergreens , mountain laurels are a multi-stemmed shrubs that bear glossy, deep-green leaves that are attractive in all seasons. But it is the shrubs' spring or summer flower display that makes them a special part of the woodlands to which they are native in the eastern part of North America. In addition to their distinctive appearance, the flowers have an unusual way of dispensing pollen. The stamens are arched, their tips held under pressure by the rim at the top of the flower petals. When a bee or other pollinator lands on the flower, the weight of the insect releases the stamen, which flings its load of pollen up like a tiny catapult. For our typical clay soil, you'll want to create a nurturing environment for mountain laurel by improving drainage and nutrient content with organic matter such as
