Mountain Laurel is one of the most beautiful of the native shrubs, arguable more beautiful than azaleas.
 
     Clusters of large, white-to-pink flowers with deep rose spots bloom late spring to early summer.  Mountain Laurel is attractive year-round with evergreen foliage on stout branches that spread from short, crooked trunks.
 
     It is a dense, rounded shrub that provides winter cover and attracts hummingbirds and butterflies.
 
     Fun fact: Mountain Laurel was first discovered, on record, growing in the wild in 1624 (Brooklyn Botanic Garden).  It is the state flower of both Connecticut and Pennsylvania.

   *Mountain Laurel can be difficult to get established.
     Here are guidelines:
     Choose a site with medium moisture and afternoon shade.
     Get your soil tested and follow the recommendations of the testing lab. Or, you can get your own soil tester.
     If your soil pH is greater than 6.5, think about planting a different shrub.
     Still want Mountain Laurel? 
     Incorporate agricultural sulfur into the soil the previous fall based on the recommendations of the soil testing lab.  A ball park is 2 pounds per 100 square feet.
     Do not use aluminum sulfate as aluminum can be toxic.
     Test the soil every 3 to 5 years to determine whether more sulfur is needed.
     If your site does not drain well, peat moss, pine bark mulch and compost to a depth of 12 inches.  
     For more, see this info sheet from Penn State Extension.