Camphor laurel - Cinnamomum camphora

Origin

Description

Bark

Leaves

Flowers

Seeds

Behaviour


Dispersal

Removal

China and Japan. Introduced as a shade tree for farms, parks and gardens.

It is an evergreen tree growing to 20m. 

Roughish grey with prominant vertical cracks. Seedlings have reddish stems

Green on top with blue-green underside. Produce characteristic camphor smell when crushed. 

Small white flowers in Spring

Pea sized turning black when ripe 

It competes with native vegetation, inhibits growth of other plants under its canopy and has a massive root system that can cause problems to adjacent structures such as drains and foundations.

Spread by fall of prolific seeds and by fruit eating birds.

Hand pulling: Small (<1m) plants only

Cut and Paint: Cut the trunk close to the ground and immediately paint the exposed section with poison

Origin:     China and Japan. Introduced as a shade tree for farms, parks and gardens.

Description:    It is an evergreen tree growing to 20m.

Bark:    roughish grey with prominant vertical cracks. Seedlings have reddish stems

Leaves:    green on top with blue-green underside. Produce characteristic camphor smell when crushed.

Flowers:    small white flowers in Spring

Seeds:    pea sized turning black when ripe

Behaviour:    It competes with native vegetation, inhibits growth of other plants under its canopy and has a massive root system that can cause problems to adjacent structures such as drains and foundations.

Dispersal:    Spread by fall of prolific seeds and by fruit eating birds.

Removal:        Hand pulling: Small (<1m) plants only
                         Cut and Paint:    Cut the trunk close to the ground and immediately paint the exposed section with poison