Camphor Tree
Cinnamomum camphora
Also listed as Camphora camphora, Laurus camphora
Also known as Camphor, Camphor Laurel, Gum Camphor
Climate Match for your location
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A large evergreen tree prized for its aromatic foliage and camphor oil, which has medicinal and industrial uses. Naturally spreading habit makes it suitable for shade and windbreaks in warm climates.
Why grow it
Camphor tree is a vigorous, broadleaf evergreen option for large-scale shade and windbreak plantings in warm climates (USDA zones 9-11). It tolerates a wide range of soil types and requires minimal maintenance once established, making it useful where other shade trees demand higher inputs. The aromatic foliage and extractable camphor oil offer secondary uses, though these are incidental to its primary landscape function.
Watch out for
Camphor tree grows vigorously and can become difficult to remove once established, so placement should account for its eventual large size and spreading canopy. Fallen foliage and seed production can be substantial, which may require management in gardens or smaller properties. The volatile compounds in the foliage are allelopathic to some understory species, so companion planting choices warrant consideration.
Overview
- Form
- Growth Rate
- Size
- Dormancy
- Family
- Lauraceae
Native Range
East and Southeast Asia (Japan, China, Taiwan)
Seasonality
Bloom Season
Season of Interest
Notable Cultivars
The species itself is most commonly grown; no widely recognized ornamental cultivars exist, though camphor trees in cultivation may vary slightly in vigor and fragrance intensity.
Canopy
The tallest trees that form the overstory.
Succession Role
Tolerances & Soil
Establishment & Care
- Establishment
- Maintenance
- Propagation
A large evergreen tree prized for its aromatic foliage and camphor oil, which has medicinal and industrial uses. Naturally spreading habit makes it suitable for shade and windbreaks in warm climates.
Climate Match for your location
See how well Camphor Tree grows in your area.
Enter your ZIP code and we'll show you how this plant fits your local climate.
Why grow it
Camphor tree is a vigorous, broadleaf evergreen option for large-scale shade and windbreak plantings in warm climates (USDA zones 9-11). It tolerates a wide range of soil types and requires minimal maintenance once established, making it useful where other shade trees demand higher inputs. The aromatic foliage and extractable camphor oil offer secondary uses, though these are incidental to its primary landscape function.
Watch out for
Camphor tree grows vigorously and can become difficult to remove once established, so placement should account for its eventual large size and spreading canopy. Fallen foliage and seed production can be substantial, which may require management in gardens or smaller properties. The volatile compounds in the foliage are allelopathic to some understory species, so companion planting choices warrant consideration.
Overview
- Form
- Growth Rate
- Size
- Dormancy
- Family
- Lauraceae
Native Range
East and Southeast Asia (Japan, China, Taiwan)
Seasonality
Bloom Season
Season of Interest
Canopy
The tallest trees that form the overstory.
Succession Role
Tolerances & Soil
Establishment & Care
- Establishment
- Maintenance
- Propagation
Similar canopy trees you might consider:
Enter your ZIP code to see top native species and strong climate fits for you.
Companion Planting
Plants well with
Notable Cultivars
The species itself is most commonly grown; no widely recognized ornamental cultivars exist, though camphor trees in cultivation may vary slightly in vigor and fragrance intensity.