Texas Mountain Laurel

Introduction

The Texas Mountain Laurel is an attractive spring-flowering small tree with glossy, evergreen leaves and beautiful purple wisteria-like blooms smelling of grape Kool-aid. Another name for it is Mescal Bean.

Use and Management

Texas Mountain Laurels usually reach a height of 6 to 12 feet, which allows them to fit well into scale of the smaller modern garden. They often produce multiple trunks, and over time grow into show-stopping specimens. Texas Mountain Laurels are generally disease and pest-free, and tolerate a wide range of well-drained soils. They are native to the alkaline soils of the Texas Hill Country, and are often found growing among granite rocks.

Plant Texas Mountain Laurel in full sun or light shade.

Although these trees are planted in many neighborhoods, children should be warned that the seeds are poisonous.

Planting

• Typically planted in 15, 20, 30 gal containers.
• B&B trees are specified in height (6’ – 8’ ht, etc) or caliper (3” cal., etc)
• Container trees can be double the price of B&B trees
• Plant container trees in late summer, if price allows
• Plant B&B trees if they were dug and cured in the winter months