Mountain laurel flowers (Kalmia latifolia); photo by Arx Fortis on Wikipedia (use permitted with attribution / share alike). All State Flowers
Official State Flower of Pennsylvania
Mountain laurel was designated as Pennsylvania's official state flower in 1933 (mountain laurel is also a symbol of Connecticut). All State Flowers
Mountain Laurel Facts
Mountain laurel is an evergreen shrub native to the eastern United States (from southern Maine to northern Florida and west to Indiana and Louisiana).
Mountain laurel is also called ivybush, calico bush, sheep laurel, lambkill, clamoun, and spoonwood (native Americans used to make spoons from the wood). The mountain laurel is one of the most beautiful of native American shrubs and the fragrant star-shaped white and pink flowers have attracted travelers since early colonial days (first recorded in America in 1624).
