The Laurel In Winter

Mountain Laurel, Kalmia latifolia is one of our most beautiful native shrubs during the cold season. The whorled leaves are very glossy, almost polished, and reflect the winter light. Dark green above and lighter green below, their oval shape does not curl up and droop in winter like those of most Rhododendrons, and they are a perfect contrast to the narrow needle-shaped leaves of most conifers. Then there is the graceful curve of the wavy trunks of mature specimens, and their ridged brownish bark. With most of the leaves and branches at the tops of the plant, the leggy trunks cast beautiful shadows on the snow. Mountain Laurels can grow quite tall – over 20′, so although they are multi-stemmed they are above the height required to be considered trees.

On the Appalachian slopes where Laurels grow wild, there are places where the colonies are so impenetrable that they are called ‘Laurel Hells’. Even in cultivated gardens an old Laurel stand can become quite formidable, although judicious pruning can create passages through it if that is desired.

In a garden, Mountain Laurel is lovely planted with other broadleaf evergreens such as Holly or Rhododendron. A particularly dramatic winter combination is Laurel mixed with Paper Birch, since their shapes complement each other and the white bark is a strong contrast to the green leaves. Near the end of winter, an unforgettable sight is Chinese Witch Hazel Hamamelis mollis, Witch Hazel Hamamelis intermedia ‘Arnold Promise’ blooming on its bare twigs against a backdrop of Mountain Laurel foliage.

Laurels provide limited food to wildlife. The dry woody capsules and tiny seeds don’t seem to be a significant food source. Leaves are poisonous to livestock, although Whitetail Deer and Ruffed Grouse aren’t harmed by eating them. Mice sometimes gnaw to the cambium in young sprouts of Laurel, especially when snow covers other edibles but it doesn’t seem to be anyone’s preferred food. Many species of birds or mammals value the evergreen leaves as cover in winter however. Even bears occasionally take shelter under its branches, and make a den for raising cubs.

In order for Mountain Laurels to look their best in winter, care must be taken to prevent damage to the leaves. Siting in partial shade prevents the yellowing that too much sun can cause on the foliage. Burned edges on leaves are due to reflection from snow in late winter, more likely to be a problem in areas that are sunny or under deciduous trees that allow much of the winter sun to shine through. Leaf spot, a fungus disease, can disfigure leaves especially if watering techniques leave water on the foliage for a long time. Cultivars with foliage resistant to leaf spot include ‘Bay State’ , ‘Bridesmaid’ , ‘Carol’ , ‘Carousel’ , ‘Emerald Sheen’, ‘Heart’s Desire’ , ‘Nathan Hale’ , ‘Olympic Fire’,’Olympic Wedding’, ‘Pinwheel’, ‘Richard Jaynes’ and ‘Snowdrift’.These all have very glossy dark green leaves. While most Laurel breeders are interested in flower variations, a few forms have been named for their unusual foliage characteristics. Leaves of’Carol’ and’Olympic Fire’ are often wavy on the edges. ‘Olympic Wedding’foliage has a purplish tone in the winter, but in summer its leaves are a normal green. In spring, emerging foliage on ‘Bullseye’ is reddish. Leaves on the cultivar ‘Shooting Star’ are paler green than on most varieties, and are sometimes yellow-mottled. ‘Emerald Sheen’has rounded, thick leathery leaves, and the plant is compact compared to most.

Since winter is long in the northern states, a great way to ensure that the garden looks lush even in the off-season is to plant stands of Mountain Laurel!