Cinnamomum camphora - Camphor Tree

The camphor tree is a large evergreen tree, slowly growing to over 40' tall and possibily 50+ feet wide, forming a broad rounded canopy. Large upright spreading primary scaffold branches often arc down with age. Can be nice green but can also be almost yellow in color.

Leaves evergreen simple, alternate, 2-3" long ovate to elliptical shaped, long pointed tip, margins entire, waxy texture, shiny, light green almost yellowish in color. Camphor smell with crushed. They have 2 glands on the leaf at the intersection of the main vein and the 2 distinct lateral veins.

I can't say its know for fall color but the evergreen leaves do fall off eventually and turn red before doing so, they just don't all turn at once, too bad, its a nice red.

Fairly distinct terminal buds, 1/2 inch long, imbricate, and sharp-pointed. Stems smooth, glabrous, yellow green.

Small white to yellow flowers, lightly fragrant in 2-3" panicles.

Small black drupe, less than 1/2" diameter, on long pedicuncles hanging in winter.

 Bark develops grayish brown with small square plates. Primary lateral branches are large with age.

Misidentification: Not really sure, its just a common plain looking tree. Look for the small glands on the leaves.

Location:

Santa Cruz:

217 Pacheco Ave - the best so far … Heritage Tree of Santa Cruz

Downtown on Cedar St in the parking lots. 

Capitola:

The one at the top is at the Beverly's on Soquel and 41st.

4610 Emerald - 2 large specimens in the front yard