Carried by 18 nurseries
View Availability at NurseryData provided by the participants of the Consortium of California Herbaria
View additional distribution information on the Jepson eflora
Laurel sumac (Malosma laurina) is a large, rounded evergreen shrub or small tree that grows to 20 feet tall and as wide. In bloom, it is intensely aromatic. The lance-shaped leaves have reddish veins and stems. Plumes of small white flowers bloom at the tips of twigs in late spring and early summer. They resemble lilac blossoms. After flowering the tree bears whitish single-seeded fruit. This shrub is named "laurel" because the foliage is reminiscent of bay laurel but it is not in that plant family. It is a key plant in coastal sage scrub and chaparral, and the berries are appreciated by songbirds, especially warblers.
Laurel sumac grows in full sun and is very drought adapted once established, but is not cold tolerant and is not found in areas where freezing temperatures are normal. It is adaptable to many types of soil but prefers well drained soil, either sandy or rocky.
Shrub
10 - 20 ft Tall
20 ft Wide
Rounded
Fast
Evergreen
Pleasant
Cream, White
Winter, Spring
Bank stabilization, Hedge
Full Sun
Low, Very Low
Max 1x / month once established
Easy
Tolerates cold to 35° F
Fast
Typically prefers well drained soil, sandy or rocky.
Soil PH: 6.0 - 8.0
For propagating by seed: Hot water or oven heat of 200° to 240°F for 5 minutes. (Wright 1931).
14, 15, 16, 17*, 19, 20*, 21*, 22*, 23*, 24*
Slopes, canyons, bluffs, marine terraces and other areas where coastal sage scrub or chaparral are found
Chaparral, Coastal Sage Scrub
Many companions including Chamise (Adenostoma fasciculatum), Manzanita (Arctostaphylos spp.), Ceanothus spp., Coyote Bush (Baccharis pilularis), San Diego Viguiera (Bahiopsis laciniata), Barberry (Berberis spp.), Mountain Mahogany (Cercocarpus betuloides or C. minutiflorus), Bushrue (Cneoridium dumosum), Summer Holly (Comarostaphylis diversifolia), Tree Poppy (Dendromecon rigida), California Brittlebush (Encelia californica), Goldenbush (Ericameria spp.), Yerba Santa (Eridoctyon spp.p), Buckwheat (Eriogonum spp.), Flannelbush (Fremontodendron spp.), Silk Tassel Bush (Garrya spp.), Toyon (Heteromeles arbutifolia), Pitcher Sage (Lepechinia spp.), Bush Mallow (Malacothamnus spp.), Sticky Monkeyflower (Diplacus aurantiacus), Hollyleaf cherry (Prunus ilicifolia), Oaks (Quercus spp.), Lemonade Berry (Rhus integrifolia), Wild Currant (Ribes spp.), Sage (Salvia spp.), Woolly Bluecurls (Trichotema lanatum), Mission Manzanita (Xylococcus bicolor), and many others
Butterflies and moths supported
9 confirmed and 9 likely
Western Avocado Leafroller Moth
Amorbia cuneana