Mountain Laurel is an evergreen shrub that may attain the size of a small tree. The showy clusters of flowers are normally pink, but fade to white. In May, a beautiful example of Mountain Laurel can be seen in bloom near the Arboretum entrance just below Old Kerr Hollow Road.

Mountain Laurel is found in a variety of habitats in the Eastern U.S., ranging from high-altitude heath balds to dry and rocky forests to floodplains. Other common names for Mountain Laurel include "Sheepsbane" and "Poison Laurel", reflecting the highly poisonous nature of all parts of the plant. It has also been called "Spoonwood" because Native Americans used the roots to make spoons and other small eating utensils. Numerous cultivars have been developed for horticultural uses.

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