Native Plant Database

From the Image Gallery

Plant Characteristics

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Tree
Leaf Retention: Evergreen
Leaf Arrangement: Alternate
Leaf Complexity: Simple
Size Class: 12-36 ft.
Leaf Shape: Elliptic
Leaf Venation: Pinnately Veined
Leaf Pubescence: Glabrous
Leaf Margin: Entire
Leaf Apex: Acute
Leaf Texture: Smooth
Breeding System: Monoecious
Inflorescence: Raceme
Fruit Type: Pome
Size Notes: Can reach 36 ft but more often 15-20 ft.
Leaf Color: deep green
Flower Size: 2 inch spikes
Fruit Length: 1-1.3 cm
Fruit Color: Black, Blue

Bloom Information

Bloom Color: White
Bloom Time: Feb , Mar , Apr

Distribution

USA: AL , AR , FL , GA , LA , MS , NC , SC , TX
Native Distribution: Coastal Plain of s.e. NC to FL Panhandle, w. to e. TX; naturalized elsewhere
Native Habitat: Low woods; maritime forests; fields; thickets
USDA Native Status: L48(N)

Growing Conditions

Water Use: Medium
Light Requirement: Sun , Part Shade
Soil Moisture: Moist
Cold Tolerant: yes
Soil Description: Moist, deep, loamy, well-drained soils. Clay Loam, Medium Loam, Sandy Loam, Sandy
Conditions Comments: Likes the moist, well-drained soils of its natural range. Prolonged saturation can cause root rot, particularly in clay soils. Shallow, nutrient-poor, rocky soils can cause chlorosis and heat stress.
Texas comments: Native only to east Texas but long popular as a residential landscape plant elsewhere in the state.

Benefit

Use Ornamental: A showy, attractive, fast growing, evergreen screening tree or hedge, popular in residential landscaping in the mid-20th century.
Use Wildlife: Berries attract birds. Flowers attract bees and other insects.
Warning: The seeds, twigs, and leaves of all Prunus species contain hydrocyanic acid and should never be eaten. Leaves of Prunus caroliniana are particularly high in this toxin. Sensitivity to a toxin varies with a person’s age, weight, physical condition, and individual susceptibility. Children are most vulnerable because of their curiosity and small size. Toxicity can vary in a plant according to season, the plant’s different parts, and its stage of growth; and plants can absorb toxic substances, such as herbicides, pesticides, and pollutants from the water, air, and soil.
Conspicuous Flowers: yes
Interesting Foliage: yes
Attracts: Birds
Nectar Source: yes
Deer Resistant: Highly

Propagation

Propagation Material: Seeds , Softwood Cuttings , Semi-hardwood Cuttings
Description: Prunus species may be rooted from dormant hardwood, softwood, semi-hardwood, or root cuttings. Semi-hardwood and softwood cuttings taken in summer root easiest. Germination of most seeds requires cold stratification.
Seed Collection: Collect fruit when it is filled out, firm, and its ripe color. Clean seeds from pulp and briefly air dry. (Seeds to be sown immediately in fall do not need drying.) Storage viability is maintained at 31-41 degrees.
Seed Treatment: For spring sowing, stratify seeds in moist sand for 30-60 days in a greenhouse, then cold stratify (36-41 degrees) for 60-90 days. Plant well before high temperatures.
Commercially Avail: yes
Maintenance: Cherry laurels do not like being severely pruned and will resist being trained into an angled hedge.

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PlantWise: Native Alternatives to Invasive Plants

Prunus caroliniana (Carolina laurelcherry) is a PlantWise native alternative for:

   Elaeagnus angustifolia (Russian olive)
   Ligustrum amurense (Amur privet)
   Ligustrum japonicum (Japanese privet)
   Ligustrum japonicum (Japanese privet)
   Ligustrum lucidum (glossy privet)
   Ligustrum obtusifolium (border privet)
   Ligustrum ovalifolium (California privet)
   Ligustrum sinense (Chinese privet)
   Ligustrum vulgare (European privet)

Mr. Smarty Plants says

Question: Looking to replace Red Tips with major leaf spot infections. Need about third replaced. What suggestions would you have to replace these privacy hedge row type plants? Need a plant that will grow at least 5 feet tall. The plants are provided with water by a drip sprinkler system. Thank You.
click here to view the full question and answer

Question: I've heard eucalyptus trees do not lose their leaves in the winter and grow considerably tall. I want to replace a decaying pine tree with a eucalyptus tree. Do you recommend that for the Spring, TX area climate.
click here to view the full question and answer

Question: We recently added a deck in our backyard which faces west, we live in Circle C (southwest Austin). The afternoon sun is intense so we're looking to plant something along our fence line to provide shade and privacy. We want something quick growing that will grow tall (20 or so feet) but not wide, since we don't want it to take up valuable yard space, maybe a tree? Also, can you recommend a flowering vine that can grow from the ground and climb to cover our brick patio columns. I'd love something fragrant, but nothing poisonous or that would attract bees.
click here to view the full question and answer

Question: I want to incorporate a tree in my landscaping near my house (10-15 feet) for privacy, what are the best trees that don't shed their leaves and have nice flowers and their roots wont destroy my foundation?
click here to view the full question and answer

Question: I just bought a house in Sachse, Tx and want to plant a privacy hedge. It will be about 220' long and I want it to grow to at least 10'-12' high. I also want it to be fast growing and be evergreen. Any suggestions?
click here to view the full question and answer

From the National Organizations Directory

According to the species list provided by Affiliate Organizations, this plant is on display at the following locations:

Pineywoods Native Plant Center - Nacogdoches, TX
Texas Discovery Gardens - Dallas, TX
Brackenridge Field Laboratory - Austin, TX

Bibliography

* How to Grow Native Plants of Texas and the Southwest: Revised and Updated Edition (2001) Nokes, J.
Landscaping with Native Plants of Texas and the Southwest (1991) Miller, G. O.
Manual of the Vascular Plants of Texas (1979) Correll, D. S. & M. C. Johnston
Native & Naturalized Woody Plants of Austin & the Hill Country (1981) Lynch, D.
* Native Alternatives to Invasive Plants (2006) Burrell, C. C.
* Native Texas Plants: Landscaping Region by Region (2002) Wasowski, S. & A. Wasowski
Texas Wildscapes: Gardening for Wildlife (1999) Damude, N. & K.C. Bender

Search More Titles in Bibliography

Recommended Species Lists

Find native plant species by state. Each list contains commercially available species suitable for gardens and planned landscapes. Once you have selected a collection, you can browse the collection or search within it using the combination search.

View Recommended Species page

Additional resources

USDA: Find Prunus caroliniana in USDA Plants
FNA: Find Prunus caroliniana in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Prunus caroliniana