- Botanical Name
- Kalmia latifolia
Mountain Laurel
Details
Mountain laurel is an evergreen shrub of the eastern United States, 3 to 9 metres tall, with clusters of pentagonal light pink to white flowers in May and June. Wikipedia says it is the state flower of Connecticut and Pennsylvania, that Native Americans made spoons from the wood, and that all parts of the plant are poisonous because of grayanotoxin and arbutin. Grieve heads her page "POISON!" and says the leaves have narcotic poisoning properties, the flowers yield a deleterious honey, and the plant is dangerous to cattle. She records the powdered leaves as a local remedy in skin diseases, to be used with great care.
Caution
Grieve says the leaves possess narcotic poisoning properties, that the leaves, shoots and berries are dangerous to cattle, that the flowers yield a honey said to be deleterious, and that a poisonous glucoside, asebotoxin, is found in the plant. Wikipedia says all parts of the plant are poisonous, and that the green parts, flowers, twigs and pollen are all toxic, including toxic honey.
Correspondences
- Elements
- No elements recorded.
- Celestial Bodies
- No celestial bodies recorded.
- Zodiac Signs
- No zodiac signs recorded.
- Colours
- No colours recorded.
- Deities
- No deities recorded.
Folk Names
- Broad-leafed Laurel
- Calico Bush
- Ivybush
- Spoon Wood
Categories
No categories recorded.
Substitutes
No substitutes recorded.
Forms
Leaf Toxic
Grieve gives the leaves as the part used and the official part. She says the powdered leaves were used as a local remedy for some skin diseases, and that great care should be exercised in their use. Her page is headed "POISON!".
Caution
Grieve says the leaves possess narcotic poisoning properties, and that whisky is the best antidote to poisoning from this plant.
References
Notes
Bibliography
- Grieve, M. "Laurel Mountain." A Modern Herbal. Accessed October 11, 2026. https://www.botanical.com/botanical/mgmh/l/laumou12.html. Open the Source (opens in a new tab)
1 3 - Wikipedia, under "Kalmia latifolia." Accessed October 29, 2026. https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Kalmia_latifolia&oldid=1372418116. Open the Source (opens in a new tab)
2 4