How to Grow Mountain Laurel From Seeds

Mountain Laurel is a beautiful evergreen shrub that blooms in shades of pink, white, red and purple. They are native to the Eastern United States and can be grown in zones 4 through 9. Mountain Laurel seeds grow inside of seed pods. There are two different theories on the best way to grow Mountain Laurel from seeds; either leaving the seed inside the pod or removing it.

Instructions

1. Leave the Mountain Laurel seeds inside of their pods, to germinate them the way they would naturally germinate without human intervention. The pods grow in a cluster. Snip the pods off of the plant in the cluster, and then snip each pod from the cluster individually.

2. Choose a high quality, organic potting soil that is made up of vermiculite, peat moss and composted plant material for best results. This mixture holds the moisture well and remains light and fluffy, unlike potting soil that contains soil and can become compacted in your pot.

3. Fill your pots with your potting soil and water it to make it damp. Lay your Mountain Laurel seed pods on the soil and push them in slightly so the pod is half way below the soil and half way above. Put 4 to 6 seed pods in each pot. Water the pots frequently to keep them moist until the seeds sprout.

4. Remove the seeds from the pods for germination if you are having trouble getting them to sprout with the pods in place. If the seeds inside the pod are light colored with a tinge of pink, they should sprout without need for scarifying the seeds. Plant the seeds in the pots the same way you plant the pods.

5. Scarify the seeds by holding them with a pair of pliers and using a file to break the hard surface of the seed if the seeds are already red and hard. Then soak the scarified seeds in water until they start to swell. Plant the seeds in the pot the same way as above after the seeds swell.

6. Separate your seedlings after they sprout. You can put them each into a separate pot and allow the plants to grow larger before planting in the ground or plant the seedlings directly in the ground. Mountain Laurel requires a moist, acidic soil with good drainage. Partial shade is preferably.

Tips & Warnings

• Mountain Laurel blooms in May and June. Snip the blooms off after they fade to allow the plant to use it's energy making next year's flowers.

• Lightly fertilize your Mountain Laurel in early spring using a fertilizer designed for acid loving plants, like the ones sold for use on rhododendrons. Do not fertilizer your Mountain Laurel any later than June, which would encourage new growth that has a hard time surviving the winter.

• Collect and plant your seeds in late Spring when the pods are just beginning to turn a combination of gray and pink for the best chance of germination without scarification.