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Prunus caroliniana

Common Name(s):

This plant has high severity poison characteristics.
See below
Description

Prunus caroliniana, commonly called cherry laurel, is an evergreen tree or large shrub that is native to maritime forests, low woods, fields, and thickets from southeastern North Carolina to Florida west to Arkansas, Louisiana and Texas. It is most often seen growing 15-20' tall but may rise in tree form to as much as 40' tall.

The Carolina laurel cherry grows best in moist but well-drained soils in full sun to part shade. Established plants have good drought tolerance. It can become weedy in disturbed areas on roadsides and along fencerows. It will easily put out root suckers and self-seed in the landscape.

The bark is smooth and gray to reddish brown with numerous lenticels.   Some splits and fissures develop with age.

This plant is easy to transplant, can withstand heavy pruning and is moderately salt tolerant.

Seasons of Interest: 

Blooms:   Early spring           Nut/Fruit/Seed:   Fall

Insects, Diseases, or Other Plant Problems:  This plant's leaves contain high quantities of prussic acid (cyanide) and must never be eaten. Borers can be a problem particularly with trees under stress. Mites can also be a problem. 

Cultivars:
  • 'Bright 'N' Tight'
Tags:
#fragrant#butterflies#evergreen#showy flowers#birds#pollinators#showy#salt tolerant#cover plant#hedge#naturalize#flowering tree#coastal#food source#highly beneficial coastal plants#cpp#deer resistant
Prunus caroliniana
Flowers Howard Edward Prince CC BY 4.0
Prunus caroliniana
Fruits Bri Weldon CC BY 4.0
Prunus caroliniana
Leaves Bri Weldon CC BY 2.0
Prunus caroliniana
Trunk Bri Weldon CC BY 4.0
Prunus caroliniana
Form Bri Weldon CC BY 2.0
Cultivars:
  • 'Bright 'N' Tight'
Tags:
#fragrant#butterflies#evergreen#showy flowers#birds#pollinators#showy#salt tolerant#cover plant#hedge#naturalize#flowering tree#coastal#food source#highly beneficial coastal plants#cpp#deer resistant
  • Attributes:
    Genus:
    Prunus
    Species:
    caroliniana
    Family:
    Rosaceae
    Life Cycle:
    Woody
    Recommended Propagation Strategy:
    Seed
    Stem Cutting
    Country Or Region Of Origin:
    Southeastern United States
    Wildlife Value:
    It provides winter and extreme weather cover. It is a host plant for the Coral Hairstreak, Eastern Tiger Swallowtail, Red-spotted purple, Spring/Summer Azures, and Viceroy butterflies. Adult butterflies and bees nectar from the spring flowers. Its fruits are eaten by songbirds, wild turkey, quail, raccoons, foxes, and small mammals. White-tailed deer browse the foliage but it is considered highly resistant to damage.
    Play Value:
    Wildlife Enhancement
    Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems):
    This plant is easy to transplant, can withstand heavy pruning and is moderately salt tolerant.
    Dimensions:
    Height: 15 ft. 0 in. - 20 ft. 0 in.
    Width: 15 ft. 0 in. - 20 ft. 0 in.
  • Whole Plant Traits:
    Plant Type:
    Native Plant
    Poisonous
    Shrub
    Tree
    Leaf Characteristics:
    Broadleaf Evergreen
    Habit/Form:
    Dense
    Pyramidal
    Rounded
    Growth Rate:
    Rapid
    Texture:
    Medium
  • Cultural Conditions:
    Light:
    Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
    Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
    Soil Drainage:
    Good Drainage
    NC Region:
    Coastal
    Piedmont
    Usda Plant Hardiness Zone:
    7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b
  • Fruit:
    Fruit Color:
    Black
    Green
    Purple/Lavender
    Red/Burgundy
    Fruit Value To Gardener:
    Showy
    Display/Harvest Time:
    Fall
    Fruit Type:
    Drupe
    Fruit Length:
    < 1 inch
    Fruit Width:
    < 1 inch
    Fruit Description:
    green fruits which initially turn reddish purple before ripening in fall to shiny black
  • Flowers:
    Flower Color:
    White
    Flower Inflorescence:
    Raceme
    Flower Value To Gardener:
    Fragrant
    Good Cut
    Flower Bloom Time:
    Spring
    Winter
    Flower Petals:
    4-5 petals/rays
    Flower Size:
    < 1 inch
    Flower Description:
    The Carolina laurel cherry has fragrant white flowers (each to 5/16" across) that bloom in dense racemes (2-3" long) in late winter to early spring (February to April).
  • Leaves:
    Leaf Characteristics:
    Broadleaf Evergreen
    Leaf Color:
    Green
    Leaf Feel:
    Glossy
    Leaf Type:
    Simple
    Leaf Arrangement:
    Alternate
    Hairs Present:
    No
    Leaf Length:
    3-6 inches
    Leaf Width:
    1-3 inches
    Leaf Description:
    The Carolina laurel cherry has 2-3 inch alternate, simple, glossy, lanceolate-oblong lustrous dark green leaves (to 2-4" long) with pointed tips.
  • Bark:
    Bark Color:
    Light Brown
    Light Gray
    Red/Burgundy
    Surface/Attachment:
    Smooth
    Bark Description:
    The bark is smooth and gray to reddish brown with numerous lenticels. Some splits and fissures develop with age.
  • Stem:
    Stem Is Aromatic:
    No
  • Landscape:
    Landscape Location:
    Coastal
    Naturalized Area
    Riparian
    Woodland
    Landscape Theme:
    Butterfly Garden
    Native Garden
    Pollinator Garden
    Design Feature:
    Flowering Tree
    Hedge
    Attracts:
    Butterflies
    Pollinators
    Songbirds
    Resistance To Challenges:
    Deer
    Drought
    Salt
    Problems:
    Weedy
  • Poison:
    Poison Severity:
    High
    Poison Symptoms:
    Gasping, weakness, excitement, pupil dilation, spasms, convulsions, coma, respiratory failure
    Poison Toxic Principle:
    Cyanogenic glycoside, amygdalin
    Causes Contact Dermatitis:
    No
    Poison Part:
    Leaves
    Seeds
    Stems