Texas Mountain Laurel grows well in sun or shade; they are evergreen and have grape-scented flower clusters like Wisteria, in March and April. In south-central Texas, Mountain laurel is commonly found on well-drained Hill Country limestone. However, it is an extremely popular landscape specimen which can be used in both heavy clay and sandy soils. Although slow-growing and difficult to transplant for homeowners due to their weight, Mountain laurel is still one of the best small trees for any landscape. It is extremely drought-hardy, so avoid over-watering and especially over-fertilizing. The stone like red beans are poisonous; however, they are so hard they can pass through any digestive tract – human or animal. Local Native Americans considered the beans so valuable they traded them over long distances into Mexico. In central Texas they grow 15 to 25 feet tall and 10 to 20 feet wide.