Mountain Laurel is the State Flower in Pennsylvania, while Rhododendron is the State Flower of West Virginia. Both grow in both states, and can grow very thick mats making it difficult to travel in the back country. And I get them confused at times.

The best way to remember the different is “Mountain Laurel” is short words, therefore short leaves, while Rhododendron (aka Great Laurel) is a long word, therefor long leaves and is much taller.

Mountain Laurel tends to be in locations that are less forested and exposed to wind, like Dolly Sods while Canaan Heights has many great thickets of the Great Laurel, usually in the same areas that was replanted with Red Spruce by the CCC.