Mountain Laurel

Pennsylvania State Flower

Mt_Laurel_Kalmia_Latifolia.jpg

Mountain laurel flowers; official state flower of Pennsylvania and Connecticut

Mountain laurel flowers (Kalmia latifolia); photo by Arx Fortis on Wikipedia (use permitted with attribution / share alike). All State Flowers

Official State Flower of Pennsylvania

Mountain laurel was designated as Pennsylvania's official state flower in 1933 (mountain laurel is also a symbol of Connecticut). All State Flowers

Mountain Laurel Facts

Mountain laurel is an evergreen shrub native to the eastern United States (from southern Maine to northern Florida and west to Indiana and Louisiana).

Mountain laurel is also called ivybush, calico bush, sheep laurel, lambkill, clamoun, and spoonwood (native Americans used to make spoons from the wood). The mountain laurel is one of the most beautiful of native American shrubs and the fragrant star-shaped white and pink flowers have attracted travelers since early colonial days (first recorded in America in 1624).

Pennsylvania

Images

Mountain laurel blossoms close-up; photo 

Mountain laurel flowers up close;  photo by Nancy (Buttersweet) on Flickr (noncommercial use permitted with attribution / share alike). 

Mountain laurel blossoms close-up

Mountain Laurel flowers (Kalmia latifolia 'Elf' #3); photo by James Gaither on Flickr (noncommercial use permitted with attribution / no derivative works).

Mountain Laurel flowers (Kalmia latifolia)

Videos

Mountain Laurel - More Than a Rhododendron - Kalmia latifolia