Texas mountain laurel (Sophora secundiflora), also known as mescal bean, is an attractive evergreen shrub that grows in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 7 through 11. I was so happy to be able to plant all of the roses and hibiscus and peonies that I wanted, along with some other bushes and trees. Allow the plants to attain some size before shaping them. Which means that the only plants to be seen were the one small tree in the middle of the front yard and a few bushes lined up along the foundation of the house. Mountain laurel needs feeding only once a year. I love them because they don’t get huge and they are evergreens! Don't remove more than one-third of the growth at a time. So I thought I would share a few that are available from one of my favorite nurseries:  Wayside Gardens. However, because the Kalmia latifolia roots are so shallow, using full strength fertilizer can burn them. It is a premiere xeriscape plant. It tends to be multi-stemmed and shrubby if left unpruned, but is often shaped into a small, rounded tree that fits nicely into residential landscapes. That means they can dry out very quickly so covering them with a 3″ – 4″ layer of organic mulch after you have finished planting is a good idea. When you first plant a new flowering shrub, you want to see it bloom as soon as possible. by David Rodriguez. Commonly grown as a shrub, it also can be pruned into a small tree. Learn more about Monrovia plants and best practices for best possible plant performance. Texas mountain laurel, Sophora secundiflora, is one of the native plants that was accepted by the nursery industry as it exists in the wild, and it has become a star performer of the landscaping industry in Texas. This happens every year. Wizzie Brown, an insect specialist with the Texas A&M Agrilife Extension Office, says genista caterpillars are easy to spot on your blooming Texas mountain laurel plants. Spread the fertilizer on the soil out to 1 1/2 feet beyond the tips of the branches, taking care not to allow the fertilizer to touch the laurel foliage or stems. The Texas Mountain Laurel (Sophora Secundiflora) is an evergreen shrub and it grows slowly, in time becoming treelike with multiple trunks. It has beautiful spring blooms, and its elliptical, glossy deep-green leaves (resembling those of rhododendrons) and gnarled stems make it attractive in all seasons. Hi Amanda…most varieties are hardy to US Zone 4, which is equivalent to -30°F to -20°F or -34°C to -29° C. Hi there – I just planted 5 Laurel plants, and I have been reading about how toxic they are. Texas Mountain Laurels are slow growers that reach 12-15 feet tall and 10-12 feet wide. You will still see Texas mountain laurel referred to as S. secundiflora or C. secundiflora in some places. Which is good for me since the dirt in my neck of the woods tends to be naturally acidic. Dermatophyllum secundiflorum is a species of flowering shrub or small tree in the pea family, Fabaceae, that is native to the southwestern United States (Texas, New Mexico) and Mexico (Chihuahua and Coahuila south to Hidalgo, Puebla and Querétaro). Description This evergreen shrub grows slowly, in time becoming treelike with multiple trunks. You might also like:  How To Care For Camellias, Mountain Laurels do not need a lot of pruning (my kind of plant!). Plant shrubs from spring, after all danger of frost has passed, to summer in well drained, moist, acidic, cool soils. If you’d like to learn more about growing Texas mountain laurels in the landscape, the following article can help get you started. The Texas Mountain Laurel (Sophora secundiflora) is a Central Texas native that opens its beautiful purple blooms in February and March and intoxicates the senses. Purchase a 15-gallon specimen from a nursery to enjoy its immediate beauty. Plant the tree and refill the hole with the soil you removed. Mountain Laurel ‘Starburst’ is a slightly larger shrub that grows to about 5′ high and 6′ wide. Thanks, Ivory! The following provides some tips to help you transplant your mountain laurel. Soak the base of the plant deeply if the soil becomes dry just below the surface during the first year after planting. In one day, they can defoliate a tree, so be sure to apply Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) at … Lovely as they are, the flowers of Texas mountain laurel are toxic to humans and animals, as are the plant’s seed pods and leaves. Learn more about Monrovia plants and best practices for best possible plant performance. Look for the hardiest varieties for cold areas. Texas Mountain Laurel is not propagated from cuttings. Choose a size that can be planted in the hole previously dug in your landsape. What has your experience been? A showy shrub native to eastern North America, mountain laurel is closely related to azaleas and rhododendrons. If your soil is heavy (like clay), try amending it with compost and top soil to help improve the drainage. Austin Native Landscaping: “If there is one Texas native, small growing, flowering tree you can’t go wrong with, it’s of course a Texas Mountain Laurel. Although the 'Texas mountain laurel' can be grown from seed, it grows so slowly that you're better off investing in a 5 gallon specimen that can be planted any time of year. Another name by which it is known is Mescal Bean. Spread the fertilizer on the soil out to 1 1/2 feet beyond the tips of the branches, taking care not to allow the fertilizer to touch the laurel foliage or stems. Also Known As: Mescal Bean Botanical Name: Sophora secundiflora Plant Type: Ornamental Tree Light Requirement: Partial Shade, Full Sun Water Demand: Very Low Landscape Use: Screen - Physical (e.g., barriers), Focal Point/Specimen Plant, Deer Resistant Ornamental Value: Purple, Lavender, Violet, … Mountain Laurels often do better when the crown (where the stems meet the roots) is a little above ground and covered with mulch. Since the leaves stay green, the plant adds structure to the garden even after it has finished blooming. Monrovia's Texas Mountain Laurel details and information. Monitoring efforts should be focused on the newest growth because young leaves are preferred by larvae. Dr. Ed McWilliams, retired faculty member, Department of Horticulture, Texas A&M University, often said that the seeds could be planted as soon as the very first signs of color appeared. I am ready to pull them out, but your article is making me hesitate. The Texas Mountain Laurel is an attractive spring-flowering small tree with glossy, evergreen leaves and beautiful purple wisteria-like blooms smelling of grape Kool-aid. Sometimes, however, you need to prune young shrubs to help shape their long-term growth. Will they thrive in zone 3? Plant them in very well drained soil, and once established, they are heat and drought tolerant and require little maintenance. Yes, now is a good time to prune Mountain Laurel before they start setting buds for next year. Mulch Place it in full sun and water about every other day during the first … © 2020 Gardening @ From House To Home - WordPress Theme by Kadence WP, Mountain Laurel Care: How To Grow Beautiful Shade Loving Kalmia latifolia, Tree Peonies: How To Grow Shade-Loving Tree Peonies With Huge Stunning Flowers, Rhododendron Care: How To Grow Beautiful Rhododendrons and Azaleas. Like most rhododendrons and azaleas, mountain laurel … If the flowers are not d… You can’t miss the unique fragrance of the flowers if you walk past this drought tolerant tree while it’s blooming. It was the first time in my life that I had a garden with full sun. These bushes have very shallow root systems. Prune off the lower branches and suckers that will grow at the bottom of the tree (see image below). Or if you have a lawn mower with a bag attachment you can clear a lot of leaves by mowing over them (although you’ll need to empty the bag frequently). Hi Linda…Mountain Laurel is a different plant than the laurel tree (although the leaves look a little similar). Copyright Leaf Group Ltd. // Leaf Group Lifestyle. They are native to the alkaline soils of the Texas Hill Country, and are often found growing among granite rocks. The U. S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service describes Sophora secundiflora (Texas mountain-laurel) as averaging between 15-25 feet tall with the potential of reaching 50 feet high! Otherwise, they have a tendency to rot in the soil (which obviously isn’t very good for the plant). I think Mountain Laurels are beautiful, too . This is one Texas beauty you'll want to get up close and personal with, so be sure to plant it were you can smell the grape soda and … Texas Mountain Laurel is one amongst the List of Trees and its type is Tree. When you put the plant in the hole, don’t plant it too deeply. They will grow in part sun or shade, but will have a tough time in full sun (it’s a little too hot for them). Mixing it at 1/4 strength will still provide nutrients for the plant without causing any damage. It can grow up to 15′ high and wide. They begin to bloom in February and continue through mid-April. If you have neutral or alkaline growing conditions, adding some peat moss to the hole when you are planting will help to give the plant a good start. Pine needles, wood chips or ground bark work well. Jay Golberg is a certified Texas nursery professional and professional project manager. These plants are getting more popular so I think they should become more readily available. As they’re native they require little to no maintenance, and on the edge of the forest (where they receive the most sun) they produce gorgeous clusters of white blooms. Find it HERE. Some people find the fragrance overwhelming. Young trees benefit from afternoon shade in hot climates. People are once again enjoying the large evergreen shrub that grows all over South/Central Texas and is referred to as the Texas Mountain (Mt) Laurel. Large clusters of showy purple flowers hang heavy on the plant in March and April, filling the air with the fragrance of grape soda. Although the 'Texas mountain laurel' can be grown from seed, it grows so slowly that you're better off investing in a 5 gallon specimen that can be planted any time of year. by David Rodriguez. Texas Mountain Laurel has dark green, glossy leaves that stay on the plant through winter, so it makes a great dense screen. Growing Texas Mountain Laurel (Sophora secundiflora) and Coral Bean (Erythrina herbacea) from Seed Cynthia W. Mueller, Galveston County Master Gardener Two of Texas' most spectacular native plants, Texas Mountain Laurel and Coral Bean, are fairly easy to grow from seed, and difficult to transplant as they become larger and … Mountain Laurel ‘Keepsake’ is another dwarf variety that grows to 3′ or 4′ high and wide. Any advice on this situation would be fantastic if you have it. Texas mountain laurel is a tough evergreen shrub or small tree known for its attractive, fragrant flowers and extreme drought hardiness. Shiny evergreen leaves and drooping clusters of lavender flowers make Texas mountain laurel popular in warm regions. To be cautious, plant Texas mountain laurel several feet from an entryway or window. In very hard alkaline soil that contains limestone that cannot be moved, you must know how big you can make the hole. As I mentioned above, most varieties of this shrub do well in shade, although dappled or part shade is best if you want lots of flowers. Have you really deadheaded them by hand without protection? Mixed in with the laurels are a few blueberry bushes of some tall native variety that have white blooms earlier in the spring- so I have quite a few chances to hold parties in the spring! Do not add mulch or any other soil amendments that may hold water and prevent drainage.The Texas mountain laurel prefers drier, well-drained soil. Should I prune them now or leave them alone? Questions about the purple-blue blooms hanging in clusters and having the wonderful scent of grape chewing gum have begun! People are once again enjoying the large evergreen shrub that grows all over South/Central Texas and is referred to as the Texas Mountain (Mt) Laurel. If you’re looking for more shrubs for shade, click HERE to see our list of bushes that grow well under trees. This hard as nails, extremely drought tolerant Texas native (can survive on a partly 14 inches of annual rain) will … Texas Mountain Laurel trees (Sophora secundiflora) are a favorite flowering tree throughout the Southwest, and it's one that is sure to add curb appeal! However, it does mean moving some of those roses around and filling in the gaps with some shade loving shrubs…which is where mountain laurel (Kalmia latifolia) comes into the picture. In late spring, it bears clusters of flowers in white, pink, and red. This plant can adapt very well to desert-like or nearly desert-like environments where the water supply is inadequate. Since I love to garden, I had to remedy that situation right away! Sprinkle a handful or two of fertilizer prepared for acid loving plants under the shrub in the early spring or in the late fall. I live in zone 6 and have terribly rocky and sandy soil. The Texas mountain laurel is often confused with the mountain laurel native to the moist acidic soils of the southeastern United States. The Texas mountain laurel (Sophora secundiflora) is a desirable landscape shrub popular in the alkaline soils around Interstate 35, which cuts through the middle of the state, and areas westward. If you prefer to go closer to the native colors, Kalmia latifolia ‘Pristine’ may be the one for you. Texas Mountain Laurel is a native evergreen shrub that can be trained as a multi-trunked small tree. In the past 16 years since the house was built, the trees have been growing in quite close and quite large near the house due to a lack of planning (thanks mom and dad) and I’ve been having trouble keeping up with the amount of yard work in fall. This is the story of how I discovered 3 easy ways to control Texas mountain laurel pests that can quickly destroy new, tender leaf growth. Find it HERE. A typical mature size is 15 feet high and 10 feet wide. After the first year, little additional water is needed, as the Texas mountain laurel is very drought-tolerant. This is one Texas beauty you'll want to get up close and personal with, so be sure to plant it were you can smell the grape soda and become a kid again. A showy shrub native to eastern North America, mountain laurel is closely related to azaleas and rhododendrons. The Texas Mountain Laurel, Sophora secundiflora, is an excellent landscaping shrub. When you put the plant in the hole, don’t plant it too deeply. Planting and growing a Texas mountain laurel is simple. This is also a drought-tolerant shrub. The buds for next year’s flowers start forming after the previous year’s blooms are finished. What’s the coldest it will tolerate?amanda. I just love the purple-burgundy blooms on this one! Mountain laurels should only be pruned at trunk branches to shape (if necessary). Speaking of flowers, it has beautiful clusters of showy white, pink or red blooms (usually) that appear in late spring to mid-summer. Monrovia's Texas Mountain Laurel details and information. To encourage the plant to put its energy into growing bigger flowers instead of seeds, pinch off the flower heads at the top of the stem when they are finished blooming. A hole for a small plant must be as big as a milk jug; for a larger plant, the size of a 5-gallon bucket. The wide edges on the flowers are a beautiful contrast against the burgundy of the center. These plants are fanstatic , I love them. Otherwise, your rake and tarp solution is the best one that I know of. Learn more about Moon Valley Nurseries trees and best practices for outstanding plant … Mountain laurel needs feeding only once a year. So my mother  and I are on a mission to help you do just that by sharing the DIY outdoor projects, plant suggestions and gardening tips we’ve learned through our combined 75+ years of experience. The Texas Mountain Laurel can easily be trained into a small to medium-sized tree. Plants, especially small Texas mountain laurel trees, should be checked frequently during the spring to detect egg masses. It grows in a large, rounded mound and has dark green foliage that remains on the plant all year. I wear gloves but no special precautions other than that. Some people find the fragrance overwhelming. Hi Laura…I haven’t tried so I can’t say for sure. Also called mescal bean, frigolito and colorin this multi-trunked tree is hardy in U.S. I did read they are similarly toxic to rhododendrons, and I thought “tons of people have those without problems,” but I am thinking now that these are not popular due to the toxicity? Perfect for a smaller garden or perennial border. Hi Teri…I’m sorry the deer have taken such a liking to them. A Texas mountain laurel cannot live in acidic soil. Mix the planting soil with water as you refill the hole to prevent air pockets from forming around the roots. It thrives in a variety of soils and is drought-tolerant. In one day, they can defoliate a tree, so be sure to apply Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) at the first outbreak. Funny enough my entire property is surrounded by native mountain laurel here in southern NH. Texas mountain laurel ha… Texas Mountain Laurel makes a fine choice for the outdoor landscape, but it is also well-suited for use in outdoor pots and containers. 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