To paraphrase Richard Jaynes in his definitive book on kalmias: Mountain laurels form thier flower buds in late summer on the current season's growth. If the seed capsules are not removed, there will be no new shoot growth from that point. No new shoots = no flower buds. There's also some evidence that the ripening seed capsules produce a hormone which translocates throughout the plant and inhibits flower bud formation. Without deadheading, Jaynes says mountain laurels - especially the modern varieties (most of which he developed)- tend to be every other year bloomers. Large mountain laurels have enough growth points to bloom every year without deadheading, but the new flower buds will not be found where old dried seed capsules remain from the previous year.

Since I moved to Oregon....I once lost a state competition in FFA because I went blank on Sophora secundiflora at the last minute. I know that it grows in Phoenix Arizona and can withstand heat and drought and doubt it can survive your cold temps but since you have the seeds you might as well try... Or, you can rub them really fast on the sidewalk and burn your classmates on their arms with them which is what we did with them in grade school in Phoenix. ;) Sorry, really just wanted to reminisce about an old plant friend.

Hi there, I have a couple of seedlings for the Texas mountain Laurel-purple blooms. I heard that there is a WHITE Texas M.L. also anybody?

Thanks everyone for the laurel information. I have so much fun collecting seeds and cuttings when on vacation and then attempting to get them to grow. It's so rewarding when they do, but frustrating overwintering them in our cold climate (we need a much bigger house at this point). I was thrilled to find live oak seeds on the Alamo grounds, put them in a Baggie and set them aside for awhile. When I got around to checking how to plant them, I found out that a certain worm supposedly affected a lot of the seeds, and sure enough, when I checked my seeds they all had the worms in them. I actually had hope for getting one of them to grow here. Oh, we'll, it's fun anyway. Thank you so much, Marcie, for your seedling and seed offer. At this point I think I'll just wait to see what happens with this plant and not worry about finding a place for another plant this winter. I may take you up on some seeds if this one doesn't make it. They are so pretty when bloomimg.