Mountain Laurel

Description:

It is an evergreen shrub growing to 3–9 m tall. The leaves are 3–12 cm long and 1–4 cm wide. Its flowers are round, ranging from light pink to white, and occurring in clusters. All parts of the plant are poisonous. Roots are fibrous and matted

Habitat:

Native to the eastern United States. Its range stretches from southern Maine south to northern Florida, and west to Indiana and Louisiana. The plant is naturally found on rocky slopes and mountainous forest areas. It thrives in acidic soil, preferring a soil pH in the 4.5 to 5.5 range. The plant often grows in large thickets, covering great areas of forest floor. In North America it can become tree sized on undeveloped mountains of the Carolinas but is a shrub farther north. The species is a frequent component of oak-heath forests.

Notes:

Mountain laurel typically blooms in May and June - these were budding a little early. Said to be called "spoonwood" because native Americans used to make their spoons out of it. Spotted growing along stairs to suspended bridge at Tallulah Gorge State Park