| COMMON NAME Camphor |
| BOTANICAL NAME Cinnamomum camphora |
| HEIGHT 20′ to 65′ |
| WIDTH 40’+ |
| MONOECIOUS |
| EVERGREEN |
| LIFESPAN 50 years to 150 years |
| PERENNIAL |
| COLD TOLERANCE 10° F |
| SOIL TYPE Well drained |
| WATER REQUIREMENTS Water after planting in ground, and water every day for 2 weeks. Week 3 and week 4, water deeply twice a week. From week 5 forward water deeply at least once a week until it has been 3 months. From then on, make sure your tree is receiving a deep watering at least twice per month. Shouldn’t need to be watered thereafter, however it has best results with regular irrigation. Supplement with water during droughts and the hot, dry months to keep your plant lush and thriving. Reduce watering in the Winter when growth slows. |
| DROUGHT TOLERANCE Medium |
| SALT TOLERANCE High |
| LIGHT REQUIREMENTS Full sun to part shade. Prefers full sun. |
| FERTILIZING A high 2:1:1 ratio fertilizer is preferred, though a 10-10-10 will suffice. Use as instructed on the packaging, sparingly. Halt fertilizing from the Fall to Winter, then begin again in the Spring. Do not allow fertilizer to clump, be sure to disperse evenly. Clumped fertilizer can potentially burn roots, potentially harming or killing a plant. Avoid getting fertilizer on the leaves, flowers, stems, and trunk. |
| FLOWER Tiny, green-white to pale yellow, fragrant flowers. |
| MONTH OF COLOR All year |
| FRUIT Small, dark blue to black seeds. Inedible. |
| ALLERGENS, TOXICITY AND ANIMALS Toxic to animals. (Dogs, cats, horses, humans.) Camphor oil is extracted and processed for topical use on the market to relieve pain, irritation, and itching. Camphor is also used to relieve chest congestion and inflammatory conditions. Certain people may have allergic reactions. Ingesting camphor can cause severe side effects, including death. |
| COMMENTS Beautiful, wide spreading, fast growing shade tree. Similar to Live Oak in appearance. Native to Eastern Asia. Introduced into Florida in 1875, when it was imported both as an ornamental tree and a resource for oils and timber. It was ultimately not profitable for growers in Florida and escaped cultivation, spreading into natural areas where birds are the main method of dispersal. The seeds are a significant food source for birds and other wildlife. Camphor tree is not recommended by UF/IFAS because it is invasive. |
| PRICE 10 gallon $30 |