'Sarah' is a cultivar of Mountain Laurel, a broadleaf, evergreen shrub or small tree in the Ericaceae (blueberry) family that is native to eastern North America. 'Sarah' blooms in the late spring with red flower buds that open to a rich pink to coral color with dots on the petals. It is a slow growing, dense, rounded shrub reaching four or five feet tall in ten years and developing gnarly branches with age. As the flowers fade, lush foliage erupts into burgundy hues. 'Sarah' displays glossy green leaves that are smaller and twistier than other varieties. 'Sarah' has better sun tolerance that the parent Mountain Laurel shrub and tolerates a wide range of light conditions, from full sun to full shade. It grows best in partial shade (morning sun with early to mid-afternoon shade) and in cool, moist, acidic, humus-rich, well-drained soils. Mulch to retain moisture and keep root zones cool. The plant does not grow well in heavy clay soils or wet soils. In heavy soils, raised plantings should be considered to promote better drainage. Remove spent flower clusters immediately after bloom and prune branches back lightly after bloom to promote bushy growth. When pruning, keep in mind that next year's blossoms and fruit will appear on old growth. 'Sarah' works well in the garden as a mass planting and can be used as a short hedge, in a shrub border, woodland or cottage garden, or along a foundation. Fire Risk: This plant has a high flammability rating and should not be planted within the defensible space of your home. Select plants with a low flammability rating for the sites nearest your home. Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: Scale, white fly, borers, and lace bugs are occasional pests. Leaf spots and blights are occasional diseases. More information on Kalmia latifolia .
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day) | Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day) | Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Soil texture
High Organic Matter; Loam (Silt); Sand; Shallow Rocky
Soil pH
Acid (<6.0)
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Moist | Occasionally Dry
Available space
3 feet-6 feet
NC region
Coastal; Mountains; Piedmont
Mature size
Height: 4 ft. 0 in. - 5 ft. 0 in. | Width: 4 ft. 0 in. - 5 ft. 0 in.
Maintenance
Medium
Canopy layer
3 - Shrub (3-15 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Dense; Multi-stemmed; Rounded
Foliage
Broadleaf Evergreen
Leaf color
Green; Red/Burgundy
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf arrangement
Alternate; Opposite; Whorled
Leaf shape
Elliptical; Lanceolate; Oblanceolate
Leaf margin
Undulate
Leaf feel
Glossy; Leathery
Leaf value
Long-lasting; Showy
Leaf size
3-6 inches long, < 1 inch wide
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
New leaves have a red color turning a glossy green. They twist and have undulate margins.
Flower color
Orange; Pink; Red/Burgundy
Flower value
Showy
Flower form
Corymb
Flower shape
Saucer
Flower size
< 1 inch
Flower detail
Late spring to early summer red buds burst forth with showy pink to coral fused petaled flowers with dots on the petals.
Bloom time
Spring; Summer
Fruit color
Brown/Copper
Fruit type
Capsule
Fruit size
< 1 inch long, < 1 inch wide
Fruit detail
Plant produces 5-valved, dihiscent capsules (3/16") that are non-showy and brown in color that persist into winter. Fruits are available from September to October.
Bark detail
The bark is thin, smooth and dark red-brown in color in young trees. The barks shreds and splits as the tree ages. The trunk is contorted with cinnamon bark.
Stem color
Brown/Copper; Green; Red/Burgundy
Stem detail
Stems are sympodial and initially bronze and sticky. As they mature, they turn turn red green or brown and become crooked and gnarly. Epidermis and gray-brown bark crack to reveal lighter colors in older stems. Pith is solid and light green.
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Unknown
Wildlife value
It provides winter cover. Hummingbirds, butterflies and other pollinators are attracted to the flowers. Although the foilage is toxic to domestic livestock, white-tailed deer browse the leaves and twigs during the winter and early spring.
Attracts
Butterflies; Pollinators
Food & Medicine
Harvest time
Fall
Fruit type
Capsule
Landscape Use
Landscape location
Coastal; Meadow; Naturalized Area; Recreational Play Area; Woodland
The toxic principle interferes with normal skeletal muscle, cardiac muscle, and nerve function. Clinical effects typically occur within a few hours after ingestion, and can include acute digestive upset, excessive drooling, loss of appetite, frequent bowel movements/diarrhea, colic, sweating, abdominal pain, depression, weakness, loss of coordination, stupor, watering of eyes and nose, nausea, cardiac failure, vomiting, leg paralysis, weak heart rate, and recumbency for 2 or more days; at this point, improvement may be seen or the animal may become comatose and die. Typically not very palatable to horses unless it is the only forage available, but sheep and goats may graze readily on the plant.
Toxic principle
Andromedotoxin, a resinoid; arbutin, a glycoside, Grayanotoxins