Virginia Tech Dendrology

laurel sumac Anacardiaceae Malosma laurina (Nutt.) Nutt. ex Abrams symbol: MALA6
Leaf: Alternate, simple, evergreen, elliptical to ovate, leathery, 3 to 5 inches long, entire margin, folded along the midrib, shiny green above, paler beneath, fragrant.
Flower: Tight clusters of very small white flowers with 5 petals, clusters occur at ends of twigs and are 3 to 6 inches long, appearing in late spring and summer.
Fruit: Round, 1/8 inch across, smooth and white in clusters at the ends of the twigs, ripen in late summer and persist into winter.
Twig: Moderately stout, red and green, smooth with small pointy buds, later turning gray.
Bark: Smooth and grayish brown.
Form: Large thicket forming shrub reaching up to 15 feet with a spreading, sprawling crown.
Looks like: lemonade sumac - sugar sumac

Additional Range Information: Malosma laurina is native to North America. Range may be expanded by planting. Download the full-size PDF map.
External Links: USDAFS FEIS Silvics - USDA Plants Database - USDAFS Forest Products Lab
All material 2025 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 map source information