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Umbellularia californica (California laurel)
Unknown, NPSOT

Umbellularia californica (Hook. & Arn.) Nutt.

California laurel, California bay, Oregon myrtle, Pepperwood

Lauraceae (Laurel Family)

USDA Symbol: umca

USDA Native Status: Native to U.S.

This is a pungently aromatic, evergreen tree; its variable form dependent on habitat. Broad-crowned if open grown or narrow in shade, it is a slow grower to 40 ft. and sometimes remains an erect shrub in dry sites. The narrow, lance-shaped leaves are dark green and leathery. The bark is greenish to reddish-brown. Yellow-green flowers, 6-10 per flowering stem, are followed by greenish, avocado-like fruits which become dark purple when ripe. Evergreen tree with short trunk, usually forked into several large, spreading branches, forming a broad, rounded, dense crown of aromatic, peppery foliage; in exposed situations a low, thicket-forming shrub.

A handsome ornamental and street tree on the West Coast, it is also known as California-bay. When crushed, the foliage, twigs, and other parts are pungently aromatic. The attractive light brown wood with darker stalkless takes a beautiful finish and is used for veneer in furniture and paneling, cabinetwork, and interior trim. Prized for novelties and woodenware, it is often marketed as Oregon-myrtle, though a member of the Laurel Family. California Laurel and Sassafras (Sassafras albidum) are the northernmost New World representatives of this tropical family.

 

From the Image Gallery

Plant Characteristics

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Tree
Leaf Complexity: Simple
Leaf: Green
Fruit:
Size Class: 36-72 ft.

Bloom Information

Bloom Color: Yellow , Green
Bloom Time: Jan , Feb , Mar , Apr , May , Dec

Distribution

USA: CA , OR
Native Distribution: Coast Ranges & Sierra Nevadas from CA to s.w. OR
Native Habitat: Moist canyons, streams & pond edges
USDA Native Status: L48(N)

Growing Conditions

Water Use: High
Light Requirement: Part Shade
Soil Moisture: Moist
CaCO3 Tolerance: None
Soil Description: Moist soils.
Conditions Comments: California bay laurel tolerates serpentine (high magnesium) soils. It is a very refined plant.

Benefit

Conspicuous Flowers: yes

Propagation

Description: Bay laurel is easily started from seed sown on light-textured beds soon after harvest. It can also be propagated from cuttings.
Seed Collection: Not Available
Seed Treatment: Removal of the leathery fruit coat will shorten germination to about two months. A 3-4 month stratification has been suggested.
Commercially Avail: yes

Find Seed or Plants

Find seed sources for this species at the Native Seed Network.

View propagation protocol from Native Plants Network.

From the National Organizations Directory

According to the species list provided by Affiliate Organizations, this plant is either on display or available from the following:

Santa Barbara Botanic Garden - Santa Barbara, CA
Native Seed Network - Corvallis, OR

Bibliography

Bibref 841 - Native Alternatives to Invasive Plants (2006) Burrell, C. C.
Bibref 995 - Native Landscaping from El Paso to L.A. (2000) Wasowski, S. and A. Wasowski

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

Metadata

Record Modified: 2010-11-22
Research By: TWC Staff

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