Noun | 1. swamp laurel - laurel of bogs of northwestern United States having small purple flowers and pale leaves that are glaucous beneathbog kalmia, bog laurel, Kalmia polifoliakalmia - any plant of the genus Kalmia | | 2. swamp laurel - shrub or small tree having rather small fragrant white flowers; abundant in southeastern United StatesMagnolia virginiana, swamp bay, sweet baymagnolia - any shrub or tree of the genus Magnolia; valued for their longevity and exquisite fragrant blooms |