Carolina Cherry Laurel
Prunus caroliniana · Rosaceae (Rose family)
AI-generated identification · may be incorrect
Leaf Morphology
Leaf Type
Simple, evergreen
Shape
Oblanceolate to lanceolate, unlobed
Margin
Serrate with small, distant teeth
Arrangement
Alternate on short, dark petioles
Venation
Pinnate with a prominent midrib and moderately raised lateral veins
Key Features
Glossy, dark green upper leaf surface, narrow lanceolate shape, and finely serrate margins.
Description
An evergreen small tree or large shrub with a dense, rounded crown, dark smooth bark, small white flowers in racemes, and small black oval drupes.
Habitat
Found in moist, well-draining soils within woodlands, thickets, and urban landscapes under full sun to partial shade.
Native Range
Native to the southeastern United States, and widely planted as an ornamental hedge throughout the southern and coastal regions.
Notes
In Sumter South Carolina
Identified on 10/18/2026