Q. I
found your blog and am hoping you can tell me if this tree in the picture is a
Bay Laurel. I have looked at pictures of Carolina Cherry trees that also look
similar. This tree has supports which I know need to be removed at some point.
The tree was planted by my builder in February of last year.
A. Looks like Bay Laurel to me. Bay Laurel
is a Mediterranean tree and more tolerant of our desert climate than Carolina
Cherry Laurel. Carolina Cherry Laurel is native to the southeastern US and not tolerant of desert
conditions without proper site selection, soil preparation and watering.
is a Mediterranean tree and more tolerant of our desert climate than Carolina
Cherry Laurel. Carolina Cherry Laurel is native to the southeastern US and not tolerant of desert
conditions without proper site selection, soil preparation and watering.
One easy
way to tell the difference is to crush the leaves and smell the herbal (Bay)
aroma of Bay Laurel. Bay Laurel leaves are pungent in their aroma. When you crush the leaves of Carolina Cherry Laurel they have an aroma
of cherry rather than herbal.
way to tell the difference is to crush the leaves and smell the herbal (Bay)
aroma of Bay Laurel. Bay Laurel leaves are pungent in their aroma. When you crush the leaves of Carolina Cherry Laurel they have an aroma
of cherry rather than herbal.
The
second way is to look for round “glands” at the base of the Carolina Cherry
Laurel leaf where the leaf is attached to the petiole (leaf stem). These “glands”
are characteristic of many plants in this genus (Prunus).
second way is to look for round “glands” at the base of the Carolina Cherry
Laurel leaf where the leaf is attached to the petiole (leaf stem). These “glands”
are characteristic of many plants in this genus (Prunus).