Everything to Know About the Texas Mountain Laurel, Sophora secundiflora.
The Texas Mountain Laurel are drought tolerant once established. They have dark green glossy leaves and purple flowers. The blooms are beautiful fragrant purple grape-like clusters of flowers that smell distinctly like grape Kool-Aid™.
Similar to the Texas Redbud Tree, they bloom once a year in the spring. The Mountain Laurel are versatile and can be planted in full sun and tolerate partial shade as well.
These are a popular choice of both homeowners and landscapers alike. They are relatively easy to care for and require minimal upkeep. It is important to keep in mind, if it gets too much shade it will be a little sparser. It will still thrive in the shade, but might not bloom as much. This characteristic makes them unique in many ways. The Texas Mountain Laurel are an evergreen Texas native tree that does well here in the Central Texas area.
- Excellent choice for evergreen screening
- Grows naturally as a multi-trunk tree, perfect for specimen accents.
- Can be trained into a single-trunk tree with early pruning.
Deer Resistant: A Popular Choice
The Texas Mountain Laurel is a popular choice for landscapes in Central Texas because it is generally “deer resistant”. While deer behavior can be unpredictable, this plant is typically ignored by local deer populations making it a great option for gardens prone to browsing.
Central Texas Native Habitat
If you have ever driven around Austin, Dripping Springs, and the Hill Country, you can see these trees growing naturally. They are easily identifiable by their dark green, glossy leaves. However, take caution—planting them further north carries a risk that the beautiful grape Kool-Aid™ scented blooms could freeze.
Thrives in Poor Soil Conditions
Another reason the Texas Mountain Laurel is so popular in the Austin area and Hill Country is its ability to tolerate the poor soil conditions that are common in this region. Aside from requiring minimal care, their ability to thrive in challenging soil makes them an excellent, resilient choice for homeowners and landscapers alike.
