Native Shrubs of Louisiana

The Mountain Laurel

• The mountain laurel (Kalmia latifolia) is an evergreen shrub that is rare in Louisiana despite being a native. This plant loves the sandy, well-drained soils found in parts of Washington Parish, located in the northern boot of the state, near Florida. The leaves of the mountain laurel are oval, dark green and glossy, 3 to 5 inches long. The flower is described as a showy cluster of blooms that are white to pink. The flowers are 1 inch wide, and have different colors in their throats. There are over 80 varieties and each have different colored flowers. The mountain laurel loves partial shade and is very hardy. This shrub is an excellent focal point for your landscape.

New Jersey Tea Plant

• The New Jersey tea (Ceanothus americanus) is a perennial Louisiana native evergreen plant that is great for mounding as accent plants or for planting on hillsides to "hold the hill." Its small, tight white flowers in the spring can brighten a slope or hillside. The plant is also drought tolerant and is a good choice for conserving water. The Jersey tea blooms in late spring. The flowers are white, greenish white, blue, pale purple or pink. These tiny flowers bloom in clusters and are tiny. The New Jersey tea likes dry areas with lots of sunshine.

Sweet Azalea

• Sweet azalea (Rhododendron canescens) is a native plant of Louisiana and is a deciduous shrub that grows upright and can reach a height of 20 feet. This shrub is an excellent focal point or can be grown as an accent plant in groups of three. The sweet azalea has dark green foliage that turns red in the fall. It likes moist acidic soil like most rhododendrons. Plant this azalea in partial shade. The fragrant flowers are 1 to 1.5 inches across and bloom in shades of pink to white during the springtime.This variety can be found wild throughout the southeastern United States.