Plant guide
Mountain laurel
Kalmia latifolia
Mountain laurel is toxic to cats. Eating it can affect the digestive system and heart. Contact a veterinarian immediately if your cat may have eaten any part.
What this guide covers: Kalmia latifolia only. Confirm the botanical label; a photograph cannot identify a visitor’s specimen.
Photo:
Photo details
NC State Extension — Kalmia latifolia
By Randy Harter
License: CC BY 4.0
Original photograph unchanged; proportionally resized for review and display.
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Photo:
Photo details
NC State Extension — Kalmia latifolia
By Randy Harter
License: CC BY 4.0
Original photograph unchanged; proportionally resized for review and display.
Mountain laurel seeds
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Keep away from cats. We do not recommend this plant for a home where cats could reach it.
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Look for Kalmia latifolia and check the selected variety. Listings and availability can change.
Plant identity
- Scientific name
- Kalmia latifolia
- Scope
- Species
- Family
- Not recorded
- Also known as
- No reviewed aliases available
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How to grow this plant
Kalmia latifolia only; the care categories summarize the cited growing guidance.
- Light
- Some direct sun
Choose partial shade, ideally morning sun with afternoon shade.
- Watering
- Keep evenly moist
Keep the root zone moist without waterlogging it.
- Temperature
- Temperature range not yet established
A cool root zone is preferred. A preferred numerical growing range was not established in the reviewed source.
- Potting
- Use acidic, organic-rich soil with good drainage; avoid heavy, wet clay.
- Through the year
- Mulch to protect the roots and prune after flowering.
Growing-guide sources
- Kalmia latifolia identity and growing guidance ↗NC State Extension · Accessed 2026-10-17
Exact named plant; outdoor and seasonal conditions retain their original context.
Growing advice reviewed 2026-10-17. Plant safety is assessed separately.
Reviewed safety information
- Toxic principle
- Not recorded in the reviewed evidence
- Reported signs
- Not recorded in the reviewed evidence
- Severity
- Severity not established
Missing information is unknown. It should not be interpreted as an absence of risk.
Safe alternatives
No verified alternative recommendations are available for this guide.
Sources & review
- Mountain laurel cat/pet safety reference ↗ASPCA · Accessed
ASPCA explicitly names the exact species and its cat assessment. NC State provides botanical identity and growing guidance.
- Mountain laurel: supporting reference ↗NC State Extension · Accessed 2026-10-17
Safety last reviewed .