North Carolina Botanical Garden

Plant Index

Scientific Name:
Common Name:
Genus:
Family:

Prunus caroliniana

Prunus caroliniana Aiton

carolina laurel cherry, carolina laurelcherry

Synonym(s): Laurocerasus caroliniana

Prunus caroliniana (Carolina Laurel Cherry)

Image ID: 16498
Image by: Sorrie, Bruce A.
Image Collection: NCBG Digital Library

PLANT INDEX

ID_PLANT: PRCA
SCIENTIFIC NAME: Prunus caroliniana
Include in WOTAS: 0
Publish to Web: 1
Last Modified: 2016-12-30

GENUS INDEX

GENUS CODE: PRUNU
GENUS SCIENTIFIC: Prunus
GENUS AUTHORITY: L.
GENUS COMMON: Plum
GENUS SUMMARY: A genus of about 200 species, trees and shrubs, nearly cosmopolitan, but especially in north temperate regions. Liu et al. (2012) make a strong case for combining subgenus Laurocerasus into subgenus Padus.
GENUS IDENTIFICATION:
GENUS REFERENCES: Rohrer in FNA (2014); Robertson (1974)=Z; McVaugh (1951)= Y; Catling, McKay-Kuja, & Mitrow (1999)=X; Liu et al. (2012); Yazbek & Oh (2013); Shaw & Small (2004); Kalkman in Kubitzki (2004).

FAMILY INDEX

FAMILY CODE: ROSACE
FAMILY SCIENTIFIC: Rosaceae
FAMILY AUTHORITY: A.L. de Jussieu 1789
FAMILY COMMON: Rose Family
FAMILY SUMMARY: A family of about 85-95 genera and 2000-3000 species, trees, shrubs, and herbs, nearly cosmopolitan, but mainly boreal and temperate.
FAMILY REFERENCE: Phipps in FNA (2014); Potter et al. (2007); Eriksson et al. (2003); Kalkman in Kubitzki (2004); Ertter (2007).

NCBG DESCRIPTIVES

INTRO:
STEMS:
LEAVES:
INFLORESCENCE:
FLOWERS:
FRUITS:
COMMENTS:
HEIGHT: 20-30 ft.

DURATION: Perennial
HABIT: Shrub, Tree

LEAF ARRANGEMENT: Alternate
LEAF COMPLEXITY: Simple
LEAF RETENTION: Evergreen

FLORAL CHARACTERISTICS
SYMMETRY:
BLOOM TIME: Feb-Apr

Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
	x	x	x

BLOOM COLOR: White flowers

White	Red	Pink	Orange	Yellow	Green	Blue	Lavender	Purple	Violet	Brown	Not Applicable
x

FRUITING PERIOD: Sep-Oct.

DISTRIBUTION
HABITAT TYPE:
NATIVE RANGE: southeastern United States

HORTICULTURAL
Plant Sale Text: Carolina Cherry Laurel is a fast-growing and is the only evergreen among our natives within the genus Prunus. The native range includes the coastal plain of Virginia south to northern Florida. Generally considered a small tree with an upright-oval shape, it also can be pruned and maintained as a large shrub. Tiny white flowers are borne profusely in April. This species provides excellent screening, particularly when planted in full sun. Small black fruits mature in October and are avidly sought out by many birds.

Bloom Table Text:

NCBG Location:

Cultural Notes:

SOIL MOISTURE: Average
LIGHT EXPOSURE: Sun, Part Shade
MINIMUM HARDINESS ZONE: 7
MAXIMUM HARDINESS ZONE: 10
GERMINATION CODE:
WILDLIFE VALUE: Bee Friendly, Bird Friendly
DEER RESISTANCE:

GRIM COLLECTIONS

Coll_id	Project	Collection date	Collector	Action
1614	HORT	1989-01-01		View

GRIM ACCESSIONS

acc_id	acc_num	acc_dt	coll_id	Action
741	1985-0392			View
2823	1987-0324			View
8959	1991-0298	0000-00-00	1614	View

GRIM PLANTINGS

plt_num	acc_id	loc_num	pers_num	inst_dt	Action
1453	741	176	NCBG staff	0000-00-00	View
1454	741	177	NCBG staff	0000-00-00	View
4686	2823	8	NCBG staff	1980-03-16	View
5916	8959	71	NCBG staff	0000-00-00	View

USDA PLANTS DATABASE

USDA Symbol: PRCA
USDA Common Name: Carolina Laurelcherry
Native Status: L48 (N)
Distribution: USA (AL, AR, CA, FL, GA, LA, MS, NC, SC, TX)
Duration: Perennial
Growth Habit: Tree, Shrub

NATIONAL WETLAND INDICATOR STATUS

Region:	AGCP	AK	AW	CB	EMP	GP	HI	MW	NCNE	WMVE
Status:	FACU		FACU		FACU	FACU				FACU

This information is derived from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers 2016 National Wetland Plant List, Version 3.3 (Lichvar, R.W., D.L. Banks, W.N. Kirchner, and N.C. Melvin. 2016. The National Wetland Plant List: 2016 wetland ratings. Phytoneuron 2016-30: 1-17. Published 28 April 2016. ISSN 2153 733X). Regions: AGCP-Atlantic and Gulf Coastal Plain, AK-Alaska, AW-Arid West, CB-Caribbean, EMP-Eastern Mountains and Piedmont, GP-Great Plains, HI-Hawaii, MW-Midwest, NCNE-Northcentral and Northeast, WMCV-Western Mountains, Valleys & Coast

WEAKLEY FLORA

SCIENTIFIC NAME: Prunus caroliniana
COMMON NAME: Carolina Laurel Cherry
SYNONYMY: [= FNA, K, RAB, WH3, Z; = Laurocerasus caroliniana (P. Miller) M. Roemer - S]
PHENOLOGY: Feb-Apr; Sep-Oct.
HABITAT: Maritime forests and sandy hammocks in the Coastal Plain, escaped from cultivation to fencerows and suburban forests and thickets in more inland areas.
COMMENTS: Se. NC south to FL, west to TX, near the coast.
RANGE MAP:

Key to Map Symbols

ABOUT FAMILY (Weakley Flora)
Rosaceae A.L. de Jussieu 1789 (Rose Family)
SUMMARY: A family of about 85-95 genera and 2000-3000 species, trees, shrubs, and herbs, nearly cosmopolitan, but mainly boreal and temperate.
REFERENCE: Phipps in FNA (2014); Potter et al. (2007); Eriksson et al. (2003); Kalkman in Kubitzki (2004); Ertter (2007).

ABOUT GENUS (Weakley Flora)
Prunus L. (Plum)
SUMMARY: A genus of about 200 species, trees and shrubs, nearly cosmopolitan, but especially in north temperate regions. Liu et al. (2012) make a strong case for combining subgenus Laurocerasus into subgenus Padus.
REFERENCE: Rohrer in FNA (2014); Robertson (1974)=Z; McVaugh (1951)= Y; Catling, McKay-Kuja, & Mitrow (1999)=X; Liu et al. (2012); Yazbek & Oh (2013); Shaw & Small (2004); Kalkman in Kubitzki (2004).

HERBARIUM RESOURCES

SERNEC: Find Prunus caroliniana in Southeast Regional Network of Experts and Collections (if available)
UNC SERNEC: Find Prunus caroliniana in University of North Carolina Chapel Hill Herbarium - Southeast Regional Network of Experts and Collections (if available)

WEB RESOURCES

USDA: Find Prunus caroliniana in USDA Plants
NPIN: Find Prunus caroliniana in NPIN Database
FNA: Find Prunus caroliniana in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Prunus caroliniana

IMAGE USE RECORDS

ID IMAGE: 16498 - Primary Image FloraQuest Plant Detail Page (Landscape Preferred)
ID IMAGE1: 16498 - Primary Image WOTAS
ID IMAGE2: 0 - Secondary Image WOTAS
ID IMAGE3: 16498 - Primary Image Plant Sale Sign (Landscape Only)
ID IMAGE4: 0 - Primary Image New Plant Sale Label (Portrait Only)