This spring, I’m considering establishing a roughly 25 foot long hedge of mountain laurel as a replacement for several very old and overgrown lilacs.
The site looks perfect for latifolia- neutral/acidic soil, moist and well drained with bright indirect light throughout the day. Zone 7a/7b Northern Virginia.
I am an experienced planter but have no experience with mountain laurel. Can anyone with experience planting it offer any assistance with the following questions?
- is it possible to find the native species in a nursery, or will I have to resort to a cultivar?
- what size pot should I target?
- what spacing between the plants?
Photo for reference – not my photo. Thanks in advance!
by lurkingurbanist
6 Comments
Lilac likes a lot more sun than mountain laurel. I think lilac also prefers sweet soil, if the lilac is thriving I’m skeptical that the laurel would thrive. That being said, I prefer smaller pots for everything and always check to make sure they’re not rootbound. Spacing might depend on the variety but all my fully mature laurel are near 12’ tall and 5-7’ around. They are lovely and tolerate rocky sites well. Pest free, minimal pruning, no fertilizer ever needed in my garden.
For at least my area, CT, there is at least one local nursery that sells native mountain laurel. So, it is completely possible to find a native mountain laurel in a nursery. Problem is, does your state specifically have any?
Doing a quick search, I did find a Virginia nursery that is listed as native, and sells Mountain Laurel:
[http://www.nature-by-design.com](http://www.nature-by-design.com/)
For spacing, I assume you want the mountain laurel to be similar to the lilacs, where they appear to be merged together into one large plant. Minimum width for mountain laurels is like 4′, so keeping them 4′ apart should give them some breathing room, but allows them to grow closely together to give the illusion of one large plant. If you want to give them more space or use less plants, then give it another foot or until your satisfied.
Mountain Laurels enjoy acid soil and also do poorly in very fertile soil. In my experience they grow in rocky areas as well.
I have some I transplanted from Nelson County near Devils Backbone base camp to Gaithersburg. its been under oaks and mostly shade for 10+ years. After 6-7 years my neighbor cleared his yard of trees so it now gets half day direct sun. Here are my observations:
* It grows very very very slow. If you are buying get the largest plants you can afford.
* It needs water if it’s in more sunlight but will grow faster with more light.
* If its in fullshade, or just dapled light it will very slowly grow: you need to protect it from accidental damage.
* it does not like to be transplanted: it barely grew at all for 3+ years.
* Its beautiful when it blooms and I love it.
* Its the only thing I have from my parents house on a mountain that was sold after my dad died aside from a bunch of quartz rocks that border my front flower beds.
Southern Branch Nursery in Chesapeake offers this for sale but would imagine other nurseries closer to you offer it as well. Maybe contact Wood Thrush Nursery in Floyd, VA?
If you can’t find any around you, I’ve ordered a few native species (mountain laurel included) from Etsy and they’ve worked out great