Show Time Mountain Laurel

The name Richard Jaynes and Mountain Laurel go together, because it was he who transformed this ordinary native shrub into one of the most spectacular of all our spring shrubs. After years of breeding, taken up later by others, his plants still remain the lode-stone for these shrubs, and his Show Time Mountain Laurel is one of the most beautiful varieties of all. You will admire the dense, rounded evergreen shrub it makes, up to 5 feet tall and wide, with dark-green, glossy and leathery leaves. It fits perfectly into shrub beds, and is a great companion for rhododendrons and azaleas. You will fall in love with the cute little pink buds, decorated with a series of ridges down their sides, that appear by late winter, waiting patiently for spring to come. When it does they burst open into amazing pink flowers. With 5 flat sides making a bowl, the extra large blooms come in big clusters at the ends of the branches. Dark pink in bud they open to a lighter-pink interior, decorated with a white center and a circle of dark-brown stamens. It’s a spring display you won’t easily forget, and will wait eagerly for its return.

• Pink buds in winter open to light pink flowers with white centers
• Unusually large flowers, in big clusters on the branches
• Attractive in bud in late winter, flowering in early spring
• Ideal companion for rhododendrons, azaleas and camellias
• Grows in moist, acidic soil with partial shade

You can grow the hardy Show Time Mountain Laurel in zone 5, and in all warmer areas, including the southeast. In cool zones plant it in moist soil in full sun. In all zones, grow it in the sun with some afternoon shade during the hottest time of day. In hot areas it will grow in light, dappled full shade too. Plant in rich, moist, well-drained soil, which must be acidic, with a pH value of 6.0 or less. If you don’t have suitable soil, it makes a great potted shrub, using soil for acid-loving plants. Deer don’t eat it and it has no serious pest or disease problems to worry about. No pruning is needed, but if you must trim it, do this as soon as the flowers are over, not later. Removing dead flower heads is useful on young plants, to encourage stronger growth.