Virginia Tech Dendrology

camphortree Lauraceae Cinnamomum camphora (L.) J. Presl Listen to the Latin symbol: CICA
Leaf: Alternate, evergreen, simple, ovate to obovate, to 5 inches, margins entire and somewhat wavy, dark glossy green above, pale below, with three prominent veins, with a camphor odor when crushed.
Flower: Somewhat showy and fragrant, greenish white to pale yellow, small and borne on 3-inch panicles.
Fruit: Dark blue to black, round, fleshy drupes that are borne on green stalks; usually produced in abundance.
Twig: Slender, geen changing to reddish brown, buds 1/2 inch, imbricate, and sharp-pointed,
Bark: Reddish brown and quite variable, ranging from irregular furrows with flat-topped ridges to somewhat scaly.
Form: A small to medium sized tree (to 60 feet but may reach 100 feet) with a round, wide-spreading crown. May form dense thickets where naturalized.
 Looks like: redbay
leaf flower fruit twig bark form1 map
Additional Range Information: Cinnamomum camphora is planted in the USDA hardiness zones shown above and may seed into the landscape. See states reporting camphortree.
More Information: Fall Color
External Links: USDA Plants Database - Horticulture Information - USDAFS Forest Products Lab
All material © 2018 Virginia Tech Dept. of Forest Resources and Environmental Conservation; Photos and text by: John Seiler, Edward Jensen, Alex Niemiera, and John Peterson; Silvics reprinted from Ag Handbook 654; range maps courtesy USGS from USDA "Atlas of United States Trees" by Elbert L. Little, Jr., Vol. 1 (1971) 3 (1976) 4 (1977) 5 (1978)