Practical
Plants

Umbellularia californica

California Laurel

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Taxonomy and growth

Family
Lauraceae
Life cycle
perennial
Foliage
evergreen
Woodiness
woody
Growth rate
moderate
Height
25 m
Spread
10 m
Flower type
hermaphrodite

Uses

Toxicity

Toxicity warning. The historical record reports a hazard for this plant. Do not use it to decide which parts are safe to eat or use medicinally.

The foliage can cause skin irritations[1][3]. A volatile oil in the leaves can cause sneezing and headaches if inhaled[3].

Edible uses

Seed - cooked[14]. It can be roasted and eaten or can be ground into a powder that is used with cereal flours in making bread[17][2][7][8]. A bitter quality in the seed is dispensed by roasting or parching the seed[20][4]. Fruit - raw or cooked[14]. The leaves are used as a condiment in cooked foods. They are a bayleaf substitute but with a much stronger flavour[9][21][12]. Used for flavouring soups, stews etc[8]. A tea is obtained from the leaves[9]. A coffee substitute is obtained from the root bark[4][8].

Product or use
Coffee
Product or use
Condiment
Plant part
Fruit
Plant part
Seed

Medicinal uses

Historical medicinal uses. These records describe reported uses. They do not establish safety or effectiveness. Ask a qualified health professional before using any plant medicinally.

California laurel was employed medicinally by some native North American Indian tribes who used it particularly as an analgesic to treat a variety of complaints[14]. It is still occasionally used in modern herbalism, being valued for its beneficial effect upon the digestive system. The leaves are analgesic, antirheumatic, nervine and stomachic[20][21][22][12][14]. Although the aroma of the leaves is known to cause headaches, they have also been used as an infusion and a poultice to treat this affliction[20][21][22][12][14]. The leaves are also used internally to treat neuralgia, intestinal cramps and gastro-enteritis[12]. An infusion has been used by women to ease the pains of afterbirth[14]. Externally, an infusion has been used as a bath in the treatment of rheumatism[14]. A decoction of the leaves has been used as a wash on sores and to remove vermin from the head[14]. They are harvested as required and can be used fresh or dried[12]. A poultice of the ground seeds has been used to treat sores[14]. The seeds have been eaten as a stimulant[14].

Product or use
Analgesic
Product or use
Antirheumatic
Product or use
Nervine
Product or use
Poultice
Product or use
Salve
Product or use
Stimulant
Product or use
Stomachic

Material uses

The leaves are used as an insect repellent, they are especially effective against fleas[17][20][21][22][6]. They have disinfectant properties and contain small quantities of camphor[22][6]. The leaves are burnt as a fumigant to get rid of fleas[14]. The leaves have been hung in bunches to freshen the air[14]. The aroma of the leaves gives some people headaches[K]. An essential oil is obtained from the leaves by steam distillation[3][15][16][19]. Beige and green dyes are obtained from the fruits (used without the seeds). Very aromatic, the dye retains its fragrance for many years[5]. Wood - hard, close grained, heavy, strong, takes a high polish. A beautifully textured wood, it is used for high quality cabinet making, panelling etc[16][19][21][11].

Product or use
Dye
Product or use
Essential
Product or use
Incense
Product or use
Repellent
Product or use
Wood

Ecology and functions

Ecosystem niche
Canopy

Environment

Range
South-western N. America - California to Oregon.
Habitat
Lower mountain slopes, flatlands, hillsides etc, on various soils and often in shade[17][21]. The best specimens are found in deep rich soils of valley bottoms[11].
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
no shade
Water
moderate
Hardiness
Zone 7+
Soil textures
sandy, loamy, clay
Soil pH
acid, neutral
Drainage
well drained
Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
No
Drought
intolerant

Propagation

Seed - it has a limited viability and is best sown as soon as it is ripe in the autumn in a greenhouse[10]. Stored seed should be sown as early in the year as possible in the greenhouse. In the wild the seed germinates as soon as it falls to the ground in the autumn[19]. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in the greenhouse for at least their first winter. Plant them out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts. Cuttings of half-ripe wood, 7 - 10cm with a heel, July/August in a shaded frame. Pot up in spring. Good percentage[18][10]. Layering.

Cultivation

Requires a well-drained moisture retentive lime-free soil in a sunny position[10]. Prefers an abundant supply of moisture in the growing season[19]. Older plants are hardy to about -15°c when growing in a position that is sheltered from cold drying winds, but young plants require some frost protection[10]. Even mature plants can be damaged in severe winters[1]. The leaves are harvested commercially in California and sold as a bay-leaf substitute[8]. The leaves emit a powerful camphor-like scent when bruised[13]. So strong is the aroma that it can cause headaches and dizziness[13]. A very large and beautiful tree fruited regularly at Kew, producing viable seed, until it was blown down in the severe storms of October 1987[K].

References

  1. F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951-00-00

    ↩1↩2

  2. Tanaka. T. Tanaka's Cyclopaedia of Edible Plants of the World. Keigaku Publishing 1976-00-00

    ↩

  3. Bean. W. Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Vol 1 - 4 and Supplement. Murray 1981-00-00

    ↩1↩2↩3

  4. Yanovsky. E. Food Plants of the N. American Indians. Publication no. 237. U.S. Depf of Agriculture.

    ↩1↩2

  5. Grae. I. Nature's Colors - Dyes from Plants. MacMillan Publishing Co. New York. 1974-00-00 ISBN 0-02-544950-8

    ↩

  6. Buchanan. R. A Weavers Garden.

    ↩1↩2

  7. Kunkel. G. Plants for Human Consumption. Koeltz Scientific Books 1984-00-00 ISBN 3874292169

    ↩

  8. Facciola. S. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-9628087-0-9

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

  9. Hedrick. U. P. Sturtevant's Edible Plants of the World. Dover Publications 1972-00-00 ISBN 0-486-20459-6

    ↩1↩2

  10. Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

  11. Elias. T. The Complete Trees of N. America. Field Guide and Natural History. Van Nostrand Reinhold Co. 1980-00-00 ISBN 0442238622

    ↩1↩2

  12. Bown. D. Encyclopaedia of Herbs and their Uses. Dorling Kindersley, London. 1995-00-00 ISBN 0-7513-020-31

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5

  13. Genders. R. Scented Flora of the World. Robert Hale. London. 1994-00-00 ISBN 0-7090-5440-8

    ↩1↩2

  14. Moerman. D. Native American Ethnobotany Timber Press. Oregon. 1998-00-00 ISBN 0-88192-453-9

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5↩6↩7↩8↩9↩10↩11↩12

  15. Uphof. J. C. Th. Dictionary of Economic Plants. Weinheim 1959-00-00

    ↩

  16. Usher. G. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. Constable 1974-00-00 ISBN 0094579202

    ↩1↩2

  17. Elias. T. and Dykeman. P. A Field Guide to N. American Edible Wild Plants. Van Nostrand Reinhold 1982-00-00 ISBN 0442222009

    ↩1↩2↩3

  18. Sheat. W. G. Propagation of Trees, Shrubs and Conifers. MacMillan and Co 1948-00-00

    ↩

  19. Sargent. C. S. Manual of the Trees of N. America. Dover Publications Inc. New York. 1965-00-00 ISBN 0-486-20278-X

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

  20. Balls. E. K. Early Uses of Californian Plants. University of California Press 1975-00-00 ISBN 0-520-00072-2

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

  21. Sweet. M. Common Edible and Useful Plants of the West. Naturegraph Co. 1962-00-00 ISBN 0-911010-54-8

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5↩6

  22. Saunders. C. F. Edible and Useful Wild Plants of the United States and Canada. Dover Publications 1976-00-00 ISBN 0-486-23310-3

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

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