Plant Details

Umbellularia californica

California Laurel

Back

Explore the size, hardiness, soil, light, edible uses and harvest period of Umbellularia californica.

Use this plant

Log in to add this plant to your recipes.

Log in

Common names

24 names · 16 languages
EnglishYour language
  • bay laurel[2]
  • California bay[2]
  • California bay laurel[2]
+4 more namesShow fewer names
  • California Laurel[1]
  • Headache Tree[2]
  • Oregon myrtle[2]
  • pepperwood[2]
Other languages (15)
Dutch
  • Californische laurier
  • Californische mirte
French
  • Laurier de Californie[2]
  • Myrte de l’Oregon[2]
Central Sierra Me Wuk
Chinese (Simplified)
  • 加州月桂[2]
Chinese (Traditional)
  • 加州月桂[2]
Chochenyo
Coast Miwok
  • sáwlas, sow'-le[2]
Finnish
  • kalifornianlaakeripuu[2]
German
  • Kalifornischer Lorbeer[2]
Hungarian
  • Amerikai babér[2]
Russian
  • Умбеллюлярия[2]
Slovak
  • okolíčkovka kalifornská[2]
Spanish
  • Laurel de California[2]
Tongva
  • takápe kakáaka[2]
Ukrainian
  • Умбелюларія каліфорнійська[2]
Sources & name notes (2)

Names recorded in our plant catalogue and botanical sources, grouped by language. Usage can vary by region.

Numbered references identify names recorded by an external source. Other names are from our plant catalogue.

[1] Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20 — Umbellularia californica (Hook. & Arn.) Nutt. ↗

Common names from World Plants, version 26.05, reproduced in Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20. License: CC BY.

Source records
  • California laurel — VernacularName.tsv, line 152295; taxon 7DH5G.
[2] Umbellularia californica — iNaturalist taxon names ↗

Community-curated iNaturalist taxonomy; common-name attestation, not an independent botanical determination.

Source records
  • California bay — results[0].names[1]; taxon id 48807; Umbellularia californica.
  • California bay laurel — results[0].names[2]; taxon id 48807; Umbellularia californica.
  • bay laurel — results[0].names[3]; taxon id 48807; Umbellularia californica.
  • Oregon myrtle — results[0].names[4]; taxon id 48807; Umbellularia californica.
  • takápe kakáaka — results[0].names[5]; taxon id 48807; Umbellularia californica.
  • pepperwood — results[0].names[6]; taxon id 48807; Umbellularia californica.
  • Laurel de California — results[0].names[7]; taxon id 48807; Umbellularia californica.
  • Laurier de Californie — results[0].names[8]; taxon id 48807; Umbellularia californica.
  • Myrte de l’Oregon — results[0].names[9]; taxon id 48807; Umbellularia californica.
  • Amerikai babér — results[0].names[10]; taxon id 48807; Umbellularia californica.
  • Умбеллюлярия — results[0].names[11]; taxon id 48807; Umbellularia californica.
  • Kalifornischer Lorbeer — results[0].names[12]; taxon id 48807; Umbellularia californica.
  • 加州月桂 — results[0].names[13]; taxon id 48807; Umbellularia californica.
  • 加州月桂 — results[0].names[14]; taxon id 48807; Umbellularia californica.
  • Headache Tree — results[0].names[15]; taxon id 48807; Umbellularia californica.
  • sokóote — results[0].names[16]; taxon id 48807; Umbellularia californica.
  • kalifornianlaakeripuu — results[0].names[17]; taxon id 48807; Umbellularia californica.
  • okolíčkovka kalifornská — results[0].names[18]; taxon id 48807; Umbellularia californica.
  • Lo:ko — results[0].names[19]; taxon id 48807; Umbellularia californica.
  • sáwlas, sow'-le — results[0].names[20]; taxon id 48807; Umbellularia californica.
  • Умбелюларія каліфорнійська — results[0].names[21]; taxon id 48807; Umbellularia californica.

General information

Scientific name: Umbellularia californica
Accepted name (Kew): Umbellularia californica (Hook. & Arn.) Nutt. View name reference ↗

Accepted in the cited Kew taxonomic treatment.

Sources [1] [2]
Botanical family: Lauraceae

Kew's family placement for the genus Umbellularia (WCVP v16).

Sources [1]
Also known as: California Laurel
Images: Google Images

Plant characteristics

Layer: Tree
Catalogue size class: Large
Height: 9.14–22.86 m

NC State landscape size range; converted from feet and inches. Size varies with site, age and management.

Sources [3]
Spread: 9.14–22.86 m

NC State landscape size range; converted from feet and inches. Size varies with site, age and management.

Sources [3]
Growth rate: Moderate
Sources [3]
Foliage: Evergreen
Sources [3]
Growth habit: Dense, Erect, Rounded

Whole-plant habit and form as described by NC State.

Sources [3]

Growing conditions

USDA hardiness: 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b

USDA zones listed by NC State; winter survival does not establish reliable cropping.

Sources [3]
Soil moisture:
Well-drained, Moist

Moisture and drainage conditions listed by NC State.

Sources [3]
Soil:
Clay, Loam (Silt), Sand
Sources [3]
pH:
Acid (<6.0), Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Sources [3]
Light:
Full sun, Partial Shade
Sources [3]

Uses

Edible parts:
Fruit, Seed
Edibility rating:
(4)
Medicinal rating:
(2)
Functions:
Dye, Essential oil, Incense, Repellent, Wood, Fragrant

Description

Cooking seeds can be roasted, ground, and used as grain flour for bread. Roasting or drying the seeds releases a bitter flavor. The fruits can be eaten raw or cooked, and the leaves serve as a spice in cooked dishes. They have an intense flavor and can replace bay leaves. The leaves can be used to flavor soups and stews, and they can also be brewed into tea. Additionally, a coffee substitute can be made from the bark.

Harvest

Harvest starts: 00/00
Harvest ends: 00/00

Crown

Crown shape: Broad ovoid
Crown density: Dense crown

Sources and references

References for the information marked with source numbers on this page.

Sources checked
  1. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew World Checklist of Vascular Plants, version 16, extracted 4 June 2026
    Supports: Botanical familyTaxonomy
    Relevant sections
    • Botanical family: WCVP v16, wcvp_names.csv row 567598; name ID 2446613; Umbellularia Nutt.. Family column.
    • Taxonomy: WCVP v16, wcvp_names.csv row 174435; name ID 2446614; Umbellularia californica (Hook. & Arn.) Nutt..

    Source checked on .

    Source data licence: CC BY 3.0.

  2. Catalogue of Life Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20 — Umbellularia californica

    Taxonomic data from World Plants, version 26.05, reproduced in Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20.

    Supports: Taxonomy
    Relevant sections
    • Taxonomy: COL 2026-08-20, NameUsage.tsv line 2723643, ID 7DH5G: Umbellularia californica (Hook. & Arn.) Nutt. (accepted).

    Source checked on .

  3. NC State Extension, North Carolina State University Umbellularia californica — Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox
    Supports: HeightSpreadGrowth rateFoliageGrowth habitLightSoil moistureSoil textureSoil pHUSDA hardiness
    Relevant sections
    • Height: Dimensions > Height; Height: 30 ft. 0 in. - 75 ft. 0 in.
    • Spread: Dimensions > Width; Width: 30 ft. 0 in. - 75 ft. 0 in.
    • Growth rate: Growth Rate
    • Foliage: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics
    • Growth habit: Habit/Form
    • Light: Light
    • Soil moisture: Soil Drainage
    • Soil texture: Soil Texture
    • Soil pH: Soil pH
    • USDA hardiness: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone

    Source checked on .