Is Mountain Laurel Poisonous to Touch?

Mountain laurel with its attractive flowers and lush green foliage is a popular ornamental shrub. However, mountain laurel does contain toxins that can cause illness and even death if ingested. So an important question is – is mountain laurel poisonous to touch? Let’s take a deeper look at this beautiful but potentially dangerous plant.

Overview of Mountain Laurel

Mountain laurel (Kalmia latifolia) is an evergreen shrub native to the eastern United States. It is a member of the heath family, Ericaceae, which also includes rhododendrons, azaleas and heathers.

Mountain laurel can grow up to 30 feet tall and 15 feet wide. It has oval glossy green leaves. The flowers bloom in late spring. They are typically pink or white and clustered in showy umbels. Mountain laurel tolerates shade likes acidic soil, and is hardy in USDA zones 5-9.

Toxicity of Mountain Laurel

All parts of the mountain laurel plant, including the flowers, leaves, twigs and nectar, contain toxins known as grayanotoxins These toxins affect the central nervous system and cardiovascular system if ingested

Some of the toxins found in mountain laurel include andromedotoxin, arbutin and rhododendrol. Even small amounts can cause harmful effects in humans and animals.

Symptoms of mountain laurel poisoning include excessive salivation, vomiting, diarrhea, weakness, tremors, seizures, paralysis and difficulty breathing. Without treatment, it can be fatal.

Honey made from mountain laurel nectar is also toxic. This “mad honey” has caused illness and death when consumed in large amounts.

Is Mountain Laurel Poisonous to Touch?

The toxic compounds in mountain laurel are found throughout the plant. But the highest concentrations are in the leaves, twigs and flowers.

So while mountain laurel is potentially deadly if ingested, it is generally not poisonous to touch. Contact with the plant or its sap is unlikely to cause any ill effects for most people.

However, mountain laurel should still be handled with caution. People with sensitive skin may develop a minor rash from contact with the leaves, flowers or sap. Wearing gloves is recommended as a precaution when handling or pruning mountain laurel.

For most individuals, brief skin contact with mountain laurel does not pose any real danger. But the toxins could potentially be absorbed through the skin in large amounts or if exposed for prolonged periods. So it is wise to wash your hands after handling any part of the plant.

Certain people may be more sensitive to mountain laurel and develop skin irritation from minor contact. If redness, itching, swelling or other reactions occur, wash the affected area and avoid further contact. Seek medical attention if a severe reaction develops.

While not normally a hazard through skin exposure, it’s still smart to minimize contact when working with mountain laurel. Wear long sleeves, pants, gloves and eye protection. Wash hands, clothing, tools and other exposed surfaces after handling this plant.

Keeping Children and Pets Safe

Special care should be taken to keep children and pets away from mountain laurel, due to the serious danger from ingesting any part of the plant.

Kids may be tempted to put parts of the plant in their mouth or suck nectar from the flowers. Make sure they understand that mountain laurel can make them very sick. Keep areas where kids play free of fallen leaves and flowers.

Pets may chew on the leaves or twigs out of curiosity. Symptoms like drooling, vomiting or tremors after exposure to mountain laurel indicate poisoning, requiring immediate veterinary care. Dogs are particularly at risk.

Closely supervise young children and pets in any yard or garden where mountain laurel grows. Consider fencing off mountain laurel plants if needed to prevent access. Promptly clean up and discard any pruned or fallen material.

Safety Precautions for Mountain Laurel

When working with mountain laurel in your yard, take the following basic safety precautions:

• Wear gloves, long sleeves, pants and protective eyewear.
• Wash your hands after handling any part of the plant, including leaves, stems, sap and flowers.
• Never burn or compost pruned branches, leaves or other plant parts. Dispose of properly.
• Clean up fallen leaves, flowers and other material frequently.
• Keep areas around mountain laurel free of debris.
• Educate children and others that mountain laurel is poisonous.
• Fence off plantings if needed to restrict access by children or pets.
• Seek medical help if poisoning is suspected from ingestion.

While mountain laurel contains toxic elements, normal gardening practices are safe if proper care is taken. Don’t be afraid to enjoy the beauty of this shrub in your landscape. Just exercise reasonable caution and make sure to keep the plant away from unsupervised kids and pets.

Mountain laurel is a poisonous plant that should be handled carefully. All parts of the plant contain toxins that can cause severe illness and even death if eaten. However, brief contact with the skin, sap or leaves is not normally dangerous. Wearing gloves and washing exposed areas afterwards is recommended. Keep mountain laurel out of reach of children and pets to prevent accidental poisoning. With sensible precautions, mountain laurel can be safely enjoyed for its ornamental qualities in gardens and landscapes.