Prunus caroliniana
Prunus caroliniana, known as the Carolina laurelcherry, Carolina cherry laurel, Carolina cherry, or Cherry laurel, is a small evergreen flowering tree native to the lowlands of Southeastern United States, from North Carolina south to Florida and westward to central Texas. The species also has escaped into the wild in a few places in California.
Prunus caroliniana is not to be confused with its European relative, Prunus laurocerasus, which also is called Cherry Laurel, although mainly known as English Laurel in the U.S.
Description
Prunus caroliniana is a small to medium-sized evergreen tree that grows to approximately tall, with a spread of about. The leaves are dark green, alternate, shiny, leathery, elliptic to oblanceolate, long, usually with an entire margin, but occasionally serrulate, and with cuneate bases. The leaves of reproductively mature trees have entire margins, whereas those of immature trees often have subtle serrations. The twigs are red to grayish brown, slender, and glabrous. When crushed, the leaves and green twigs emit a fragrance described as resembling maraschino cherries or almond extract.Fragrant white to cream-colored flowers are produced in racemes long in the late winter to early spring. The fruits are tiny black cherries about in diameter, which persist through winter and are primarily consumed by birds.