Texas Mountain Laurel is a popular ornamental tree valued for its handsome, dark green foliage and lush early spring blooms. These purple blooms, forming in 3 to 7 inch drooping clusters each March and April, are said to smell like grape soda. In addition to the distinct blooms, the Mountain Laurel also produces a brilliant, lacquer red seed. These seeds were highly valued by indigenous people for ornamental and ceremonial uses. However, they are highly poisonous – the consumption of a single seed is enough to kill an adult. The laurel is drought-tolerant and prefers rocky soil, growing slowly compared to other native species.