California-laurel (Umbellularia)

• Leaves are evergreen, simple, alternate, and elliptical in shape. They have a pungent odor, like eucalyptus, when crushed.
• Olive-like fruit is often purple when mature.
• Only grows in natives stands along the coast of California and southwestern Oregon, although grows elsewhere as an ornamental.
• In Oregon, it's commonly called Oregon-myrtle and gives rise to myrtlewood.

California-laurel is truly unique.  There is only one species in the entire genus, so both the genus and species have the same name.  The world's only California-laurel grows along the coast of California and southwestern Oregon, where it is commonly called Oregon-myrtle, or myrtlewood.  The hyphens in the common names help us remember that this tree is neither a laurel nor a myrtle.

For more information on the alders native to the Pacific Northwest, go to the species page or see "Trees to Know in Oregon".