March 09, 2026
The sweet scent of grape Kool-Aid fills the air when Texas mountain laurel (Dermatophyllum secundiflorum, formerly Sophora secundiflora) starts blooming in March. Last year, a late freeze robbed Austin of our native tree’s wisteria-like blossoms. But what a show we’re getting this year. Everyone is talking about it.
During this banner bloom season for Texas mountain laurel, the cascading purple flowers have been wowing me across the city. I’ve been stopped in my tracks on walks, in my own garden, and while trudging across prosaic parking lots. Here are a few of my favorite mountain laurel moments over the past week.
Texas mountain laurels at BookPeople
Last Tuesday, after catching Lucinda Williams at Waterloo Records, I walked over to BookPeople, a beloved indie bookstore (where I was happy to see numerous copies of my book Gardens of Texas for sale!). In the parking lot, this glorious sight greeted me: clusters of big old Texas mountain laurels in full bloom.
Sweet grapey goodness in each sniff
Shazam!
Texas mountain laurel at home
A couple days later, Texas mountain laurels in my own garden started blooming, including this one grown by my daughter from seed when she was in 5th grade. Look how tall it is now!
This tree lost half its mass during the 2023 ice storm, when a big live oak limb fell and broke half of it. But it rallied and recovered, and now it’s gorgeous in bloom again.
I wish I could share the fragrance with you.
Grape bubble-gum scent, wisteria-like flowers, and glossy evergreen leaves — what a combo. What’s more, Texas mountain laurel is practically bulletproof, even in our hot, droughty summers. All it asks for is good drainage and sun for best flowering.
Texas mountain laurel on my walk
On a neighborhood walk, I admired this beautiful mountain laurel against the crosshatched trunk of a Texas palmetto.
An iconic Texas-native combo
Texas mountain laurels near First Light Books
On Friday I popped into First Light Books in Austin’s Hyde Park neighborhood…
…where I was delighted to find Gardens of Texas for the first time. I offered to sign their stock, so there are currently a few autographed copies on the shelves.
Outside, I caught the telltale fragrance of grape Kool-Aid and spotted a bonanza of Texas mountain laurels catty-corner from the bookstore. At least six big old trees screen a house at the intersection, every one in purple bloom, and they are giants!
How could anyone just drive by?
I walked up and down the block, stopping to smell each one. I hope the owners of the house don’t mind the flower paparazzi right now.
It was easy to admire and smell them from the public sidewalk, so I don’t think I made a nuisance of myself.
Ka-pow!
I couldn’t get enough of them.
Even the sidewalk is wearing their purple flowers.
Bees love the flowers too, so you have to be cautious when leaning in for a sniff. I think these black-bodied bees are carpenter bees.
Zoom!
A few more
It was hard to tear myself away.
A last sniff and look. Texas mountain laurel season may be coming to an end soon, but what a fantastic season it’s been.
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Digging Deeper
My new book, Gardens of Texas: Visions of Resilience from the Lone Star State, is here! Find it on Amazon, other online book sellers, and in stores everywhere. It’s for anyone who loves gardens or the natural beauty of Texas. More info here.
Come see me on tour! I’ll be speaking and hosting book events across Texas this spring to celebrate the release of Gardens of Texas. Join me to learn, get inspired, and say hello!
Learn about garden design and ecology at Garden Spark! I organize in-person talks by designers, landscape architects, authors, and gardeners a few times a year in Austin. Subscribe to Garden Spark by clicking here to email — subject line: SUBSCRIBE.
All material © 2026 by Pam Penick for Digging. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited.
