Prunus caroliniana
Common Name(s):
- This plant has high severity poison characteristics.
- See below
- Description
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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.
Fire Risk: This plant has a medium flammability rating.
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 / Varieties:
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- 'Bright 'N' Tight'
- 'Bright 'N' Tight'
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- 'Bright 'N' Tight'
- 'Bright 'N' Tight'
- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Prunus
- Species:
- caroliniana
- Family:
- Rosaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Woody
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Seed
- Stem Cutting
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Southeastern United States
- Fire Risk Rating:
- medium flammability
- 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 Food Source
- 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.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Native Plant
- Poisonous
- Shrub
- Tree
- Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Habit/Form:
- Dense
- Pyramidal
- Rounded
- Growth Rate:
- Rapid
- Texture:
- Medium
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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
- Moist
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Usda Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b
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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. Mature with a large pith (stone).
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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).
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Leaves:
- Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Glossy
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- 1-3 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. Have smooth or toothed margin.
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Bark:
- Bark Color:
- Light Brown
- Light Gray
- Red/Burgundy
- Surface/Attachment:
- Lenticels
- Patchy
- Smooth
- Bark Description:
- The bark is smooth and gray to reddish brown with numerous lenticels. Develop gray patches and splits with age.
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Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
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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:
- Poisonous to Humans
- Weedy
- Plants that fill a similar niche:
-
Ilex vomitoria
-
Panicum virgatum
-
Sabal minor
