Carolina cherry laurel is a broadleaf evergreen, woody shrub to small tree and a member of the rose family (Rosaceae). It is native to the southern United States. The species epithet is Latin for “Carolinian.” Full sun is preferred but it is tolerant of partial shade as long as the soil is moist and well-drained. Established plants have good drought tolerance. It is easy to transplant, can withstand heavy pruning, and is moderately salt tolerant. Propagate it by seed or stem cutting. It can become weedy in the landscape due to suckering and self-seeding. Carolina cherry laurel grows rapidly to 35 feet tall and 15 to 20 feet wide. It has a dense pyramidal to rounded form. Look for the glands on the lower surface of the leaves. The fresh leaves of this plant have a maraschino cherry fragrance when crushed. The flowers are inconspicuous yet fragrant. The fruits are enjoyed by birds. Eastern wild black cherry ( Prunus serotina ) is similar but has raised glands on the petiole near the base of the blade and has longer racemes. Use in small groups or a mass planting for borders, hedges or foundation plantings. It is suitable for naturalized, riparian or woodland areas as well as a specimen in butterfly, native or pollinator gardens. Fire Risk : This plant has a medium flammability rating. Quick ID Hints : Evergreen lustrous leaves reticulate below. Leaves with two glands on the lower blade base and near the margin. Inflorescences short, axillary racemes and white flowered. Insects, Diseases and Other Plant Problems : Borers can be a problem, particularly with trees under stress. Mites and scale and plum curculio (weevils) can also be a problem. Fungal and viral issues are occasional problems. More information on Prunus .
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
Often confused withPrunus laurocerasusPrunus laurocerasus 'Otto Luyken'Prunus laurocerasus 'Schipkaensis'
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day) | Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Soil pH
Acid (<6.0); Alkaline (>8.0); Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Moist | Occasional Flooding | Occasionally Dry
NC region
Coastal; Piedmont
Mature size
Height: 15 ft. 0 in. - 35 ft. 0 in. | Width: 15 ft. 0 in. - 20 ft. 0 in.
Growth rate
Rapid
Canopy layer
2 - Understory (15-40 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Dense; Pyramidal; Rounded
Texture
Medium
Foliage
Broadleaf Evergreen
Leaf color
Green
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf arrangement
Alternate
Leaf shape
Elliptical; Lanceolate; Oblong
Leaf margin
Entire; Serrate
Leaf feel
Glossy
Leaf size
1-3 inches long, 1-3 inches wide
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
Leaves are 2 to 3 inches long, alternate, simple, glossy, oblong to oblong-elliptic to elliptic-lanceolate, acute, cuneate to broad cuneate, entire as adult, spinose-serrate as seedlings, and are lustrous dark green at maturity. Leaves have pointed tips. The lower surface bears a pair of small glands near the base of the blade near the margins.
Flower color
White
Flower value
Fragrant; Good Cut; Showy
Flower form
Raceme
Flower size
< 1 inch
Flower detail
The Carolina laurel cherry has fragrant, small white flowers (each to 5/16" across) that bloom in dense, short, axillary racemes (1" long) in late winter to early spring (March to April) and are somewhat inconspicuous amongst the leaves.
Bloom time
Spring
Fruit color
Black; Green
Fruit type
Drupe
Fruit value
Showy
Fruit size
< 1 inch long, < 1 inch wide
Fruit detail
Green drupes that mature lustrous, dark black, ovoid subglobose, and are less than an inch in diameter. They mature with a large pith (stone). Fruit displays from September to October. Green fruits are cyanogenic, but immature seeds are not. Ripe fruits are free from cyanide, but their mature seeds are strongly cyanogenic.
Bark color
Light Brown; Light Gray; Red/Burgundy
Bark detail
The bark is smooth and gray to reddish-brown with numerous lenticels. Develops gray patches and splits with age.
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Native
Origin
southern USA.
Wildlife value
Provides winter and extreme weather cover. Host plant for Coral Hairstreak, Red-spotted Purple, Spring/Summer Azures, and Viceroy butterflies. This is also a larval host plant to Eastern Tiger Swallowtail (Papilio glaucus). You may see three flights from February-November in the deep south and two flights from May-September in the north. Adult butterflies source nectar from the spring flowers and bees source the pollen. Fruits are eaten by songbirds, wild turkeys, quail, raccoons, foxes, and small mammals. White-tailed deer browse foliage.
Attracts
Bees; Butterflies; Pollinators; Small Mammals; Songbirds