Carolina Laurel Cherry or Cherry Laurel

Prunus caroliniana (Mill.) Aitl
(PROO-nus ca-ro-lin-ee-AN-uh)

General:

An evergreen tree that grows to 12 m. (36 ft.) or more, the Cherry Laurel has attractive, dark green foliage. The upright oval crown and fragrant white flowers in spring make this native a desirable landscape tree.

The botanical name is Greek "prunos" (plum or cherry) and “of Carolina.” The leaves and branches contain so much prussic acid that it may be fatal to livestock if browsed in large amounts, but the edible fruits attract birds and mammals.

Flowers/Fruit:

Showy racemes of tiny, fragrant white flowers are borne in leaf axils in early spring. Shiny, black drupes about 12 mm. (½ in.) in diameter form in axillary clusters. Each of the edible fruits contains a small ovoid stone with a prominent dorsal groove.

Leaves/Stems:

Alternate, simple, elliptic leaves are 5-12 cm. (2-5 in.) long. The leathery blades have mostly entire margins that are occasionally toothed or wavy. Their surface is waxy and dark green above, lighter green below. When crushed, the leaves have a pleasant odor.

The smooth, gray bark is thin and easily damaged by mechanical impact.

Distribution:

These trees are found in a wide variety of habitats, as the seeds are widely distributed by birds and through cultivation in landscapes. In Florida, they are found throughout the peninsula south to DeSoto County. Native to North America, these trees are found along the Coastal Plain from Florida to Texas and North Carolina.