General: Laurel family (Lauraceae). California laurel is a perennial, evergreen tree or shrub that is native to California and southern Oregon. The trees have many slender erect branches and a dense crown that can be rounded to pyramidal in shape. The height is variable depending on conditions and the plants can grow from 3 to 45 meters tall. The smallest forms are found under dry conditions and they reach their greatest size on deep alluvial soils near rivers.

The greenish to reddish brown bark, which is thin and smooth on young trees, begins to peel and shed as the trees mature. The alternately arranged leaves are oblong to lance-shaped (2.5 to 11 cm long and 1.5 to 3 cm wide). Leaves are glossy dark yellow-green, thick, and leathery. When crushed, the leaves give off a strong peppery menthol-like odor, which is the reason the early European settlers gave the tree the name pepperwood. The small yellow-green flowers are borne in clusters of 6 to 10 flowers. The round olive-like fruits (1 to 2.5cm in diameter) turn from green to deep brown-purple. Inside the fruit is a single large seed, which is a white kernel surrounded by a light brown shell.

Distribution: California laurel is distributed from San Diego County to Northwestern California and into southwestern Oregon. In California, it occurs in both the Coast Ranges and Sierra Nevada. For current distribution, please consult the Plant Profile page for this species on the PLANTS Web site.

Habitat: California laurel trees are abundant near water sources in alluvial flood plains as well as shady hillsides and canyons below 1600 meters. The trees occur in oak woodlands, mixed evergreen forest, redwood forest, and chaparral. In chaparral communities they grow in canyons, valleys, and sometimes in high rocky areas were they are able tap into moisture.