Camphor trees are large trees with large canopies that grow in the United States in several parts of the country but are native to Asia, especially Japan and China. These trees have varied purposes, so there are several places you might find them.
Some of the most common places where camphor trees grow include streets, yards, and forests, so their locations are very versatile. Camphor trees are very controversial among gardeners and homeowners because the trees have a lot of positive attributes but they also have some problems.
Read on to learn more about camphor trees, their uses and purposes, and why you might see them anywhere from lining your sidewalk to your neighbor’s front yard or an ancient forest in Japan.
Some Key Facts About Camphor Trees
Camphor trees are a tree you may not have heard of, as they aren’t as common as oaks or maples, but they are still a common tree found in many parts of the country.
They make great shade trees and their oil is valued for its medicinal properties. But camphor oil is toxic to humans and pets, so use extreme caution when considering this tree.
Camphor trees are a part of the laurel family, which also includes magnolia trees, another species of evergreen that does not have needles. Because of this, many people like to plant them so they can enjoy their foliage year-round.
The Controversy Of Camphor Trees
Most of the controversy regarding camphor trees comes about because the trees are great for some purposes but they are extremely invasive and problematic for many reasons, so while some people love them and want to plant and grow them, other people hate camphor trees and want to eliminate them.
Camphor trees are not native to the United States, but they can now be found in a number of areas of the country since they were introduced from Asia.
The same thing has also happened to Australia, where camphor trees were introduced from Asia and were originally grown on purpose as ornamental trees in yards and gardens, but the trees soon took over other plants and trees and now most people in Australia consider camphor trees to be like unwanted weeds.
Camphor trees are fast-growing and aggressive, and they can kill other plants in their way as they spread and grow. But camphor trees are also huge, beautiful evergreens that provide beauty and shade, so many people welcome them into their neighborhoods.
To decide which side you are on, read on for some more information about camphor trees, including their benefits and uses. Then ponder the common places these trees grow and decide for yourself which side of the argument you support.
Camphor Oil
Camphor trees are the source of camphor oil, which is prized among those who believe in herbal treatments for their anti-inflammatory properties. Camphor trees are from the laurel family and their leaves have a distinct smell when crushed.
According to one of our other articles on 5 Reasons Why Lavender Needs Full Sun And Not Shade, camphor smells somewhat similar to French lavender. So the oil itself might remind some people of lavender oil, which is alleged to have a calming property and is sometimes recommended to help people sleep better.
Camphor oil is not scientifically proven to have benefits, but it is used widely in natural remedy circles.
Like all things of this nature, make sure to check with your doctor and read all pertinent information before using camphor oil, and remember to always keep it far away from kids and pets!
Camphor Trees Are Invasive
According to the University of Florida, camphor trees are invasive, which means that they will take root and grow in many areas, including those where they are not wanted or might damage other plants or trees. Their roots are aggressive, which means they will continue to grow quickly and intensely even if there are other roots or objects in their way.
If you want to plant a camphor tree, this is something to keep in mind, as you need to keep your new camphor tree away from any other plants, trees, or structures the roots might disrupt.
These also include the foundations of buildings, driveways, or the sidewalk, which might seem like a contradiction since camphor trees so often are used to line streets.
Camphor trees spread very easily, even if you try to stop the spread by mowing the seeds, pulling the seedlings, or cutting down the saplings; they have been known to continue to grow even after they have been burned! Their fruit is picked up by birds that carry it all over the place, and the seedlings are really difficult to kill.
Camphor Trees Are Not Native To The United States
According to the University of West Alabama and the Alabama Herbarium Consortium’s Alabama Plant Atlas, camphor trees are evergreen trees that came to the United States from Asia in the late nineteenth century.
They do not look like many evergreen trees we are used to here in America, as they have leaves instead of needles, but, like the magnolia tree, they are evergreens nonetheless.
Camphor trees were introduced to Florida from Asia in the 1870s when they were meant to be used for decoration. After that, they began to spread and now can be found in many southern states.
Camphor Leaves Have A Distinct Smell
One of the easiest ways to identify a camphor tree is to crush one of its leaves and see how it smells. If you smell something similar to mint or lavender, it’s probably a camphor tree.
Since most tree identification requires you to know specifics like the type of bark, the shape of the leaves, or even very detailed specifics like how the leaf attaches to its stem, this is a very easy way to identify a tree!
The smell is described as the smell of camphor, but, if you have never smelled camphor, you won’t know what to look for. Some people compare it to mint, others to lavender, others to menthol, but these sorts of smells can help you with your initial identification and then, once you have smelled it, you will know what to smell for in the future.
Other Characteristics Of Camphor Trees
Camphor trees grow to be a huge 150 feet tall with canopies that can be as wide as 300 feet; they often grow to a smaller size than that, but they still have canopies as wide as the trees are tall, which makes them great trees for visual impact and shade.
They grow best in full sun, like most trees, and they are tolerant of drought but they prefer very moist soil with low acidity.
Camphor trees have green leaves that stay green year-round, and their scientific name is cinnamomum camphora. The camphor also has mostly white flowers and show up in late spring, and it has berries that are black and are spread widely by birds, making control of this invasive tree’s growth very difficult.
Camphor trees do attract some wildlife, including birds, which are known to spread camphor seeds far and wide, and butterflies and deer. They are not particularly susceptible to pests or diseases, so they are quite hardy trees that can survive in several environments and through many harsh conditions.
Where Do Camphor Trees Grow?
Now let’s take a look at some common places where camphor trees grow, including urban locations, residential locations, and widely varied parts of the world.
These locations can vary widely from area to area, and the uses of the camphor tree are quite varied, so this list is fairly eclectic.
1. Along City Streets
Camphor trees are commonly found growing along streets to line them or line the sidewalks. This is because camphor trees are great for shade and therefore work well to help shade walkways and the streets that people drive on as well as the areas where people frequently walk or ride bicycles.
Camphor trees are used to line streets because they can tolerate the conditions of the city, like pollution, for example.
But camphor trees can take over other trees that are nearby, so while they work well along streets, you have to be careful that they do not grow too close to other species of trees or plants.
Some camphor trees can live to be over 100 years old, so they are also chosen to line streets sometimes because they do not have to be replaced for a long time, meaning they can mature and provide shade to residents of those streets for decades.
Also, the evergreen nature of camphor trees makes them great for street shade because the shade is not lost in the winter when shade is still needed but leaves are sometimes scarce.
2. In Residential Yards
Camphor trees, because they provide great shade, are commonly found in people’s yards. If you are looking for a large, evergreen shade tree, the camphor is a popular option, though there are some important things to beware of as you plant a camphor tree near your home.
Camphor trees grow very quickly, so they are popular with homeowners for that reason.
If you want to grow a tree fast and you want some shade or even just the yard decoration of a mature tree very quickly, a camphor tree, which can grow about two feet each year, might be a great choice.
As we have discussed, planting camphor is a controversial choice, so here are some of the pros and cons of planting a camphor tree in your yard. But, before we get into the details, here is a quick chart to sum it all up.
| Planting Location | Pros | Cons |
| Yard | Great shade; beautiful ornamentation; evergreen leaves | Invasive species; aggressive root system; difficult to control |
| Public Spaces (Parks, streets, etc.) | Big canopies for lots of shade; evergreen leaves; long lives of the trees means replacement is rare; hardy in many conditions | Might kill nearby trees or plants; more trees will grow in the space easily |
Some Benefits Of Growing Camphor Trees In Your Yard
Camphor trees are very pretty trees with glossy leaves and huge canopies, so they can look quite beautiful and impressive in a front or back yard.
If you are looking to plant a large shade tree or large ornamental tree, you might consider a camphor tree, especially if you want an evergreen tree that does not have needles.
Camphor trees are prized for their resilience, which is a negative when you are trying to get rid of them but a positive when you want to plant a tree that can survive in harsh conditions. Camphor trees can grow around fences, other roots, structures, and obstacles.
Another reason that people like to grow camphor trees is for their smell, which, as we mentioned earlier, is similar to that of French lavender, which many people enjoy. There are, however, other options for fragrant trees if you want to avoid a tree species that is so problematic.
Some Cautions Of Growing Camphor Trees In Your Yard
Camphor trees are beautiful, huge trees with enormous canopies that can be as wide as 300 feet! This is an enormous canopy, so you can probably see the appeal for homeowners and gardeners looking for a fast-growing tree that can provide a lot of shade.
But camphor trees produce tons of seeds, and those seeds often grow into trees, so unless you want multiple camphor trees, you can pull the seedlings or get rid of the seeds each year. The tradeoff for this is that camphor trees are evergreen, so there are fewer leaves to rake in the fall.
Camphor trees also should not be planted very close to anything with a foundation or to other trees, as the roots of the camphor tree are very aggressive and can disrupt or destroy other things they encounter underground.
Avoid having to repave your driveway or fix a sidewalk break by planting your camphor tree far enough away from these things.
3. In The Forests of Asia (And Australia)
Camphor trees are very common in the forests of the lands to which they are native, including parts of Asia such as China, Japan, and Korea. The trees also grow naturally in Australia.
These trees prefer wet environments like forests with lots of rain, so they are found in abundance in their native habitats like the more warm and humid areas of Asia.
They are also found in eastern Australia, where they have become invasive and are more like weeds to many than trees.
Camphor trees can grow in forests of varying elevations, and they can grow in forests that are near the coasts. They are very versatile and hardy trees, so while the forests of Asia and Australia are very common, they are certainly not the only places to find camphor trees.
Camphor Trees Are Grown In Commercial Forests, Too
In Asia, camphor trees are also grown purposefully so their oil can be harvested and sold. As we already mentioned, camphor oil is highly touted for its medicinal uses, so it can be sold easily.
4. In The United States
Camphor trees may not have originated here, but they grow here now in large numbers, mostly in southern states with high humidity like Florida, Georgia, and parts of Texas.
Because the camphor tree is an invasive species, it has now posed a threat to the Florida jujube tree, and it has been categorized as a level I invasive species in the state of Florida.
If the invasive nature of camphor trees is a problem for you, one thing that can help is to mow any area where there may be camphor seeds, as this can stop them from growing into trees. You can also use herbicides to kill camphor seedlings before they grow into camphor trees.
But some people plant camphor trees on purpose, as their huge canopies are great for shade and the massive size of these trees is something many people want in their yards, especially if they have larger yards.
So while some people are trying to get rid of camphor trees, others are encouraging their growth; it all depends on your goals for your yard.
Camphor Trees Are Commonly Planted In Public Spaces
Camphor trees are also used frequently in public spaces like parks because they live a very long time. Some camphor trees are alleged to have lived for 1,000 years!
In Japan, there is even a camphor tree that is supposed to be 3,000 years old. Most camphor trees do not live this long, of course, but their long lives are an asset when people think about planting them in areas where you probably don’t want to have to frequently replace trees, like parks and public spaces.
If you live near a park with a camphor tree, be aware that any seedlings you see in your yard probably need to be pulled quickly and you might need to start using a herbicide on them if you are sure they are camphor trees. Otherwise, you might end up with your unintentional camphor forest!
Important Toxicity Information Regarding Camphor Trees
Camphor oil, despite its frequent use in natural remedies, is toxic, especially to people, cats, and dogs. So if you have children or pets, you should avoid camphor oil.
Some Common Ways To Give Extra Care To Camphor Trees
If you do want to plant a camphor tree, keep in mind the invasive nature of its seeds and the aggressive nature of its roots. This might mean that you mow regularly around your camphor tree to prevent seedlings from sprouting or that you keep your camphor tree’s roots far away from other trees or structures.
To aid the health of your camphor tree, you can consider using fertilizer in the tree’s mature years.
Some types of fertilizer are formulated specifically for trees, like Scotts Evergreen, Flowering Tree, and Shrub Continuous Release Plant Food. Or, for a fertilizer option that does not have to be scattered along the ground, there are spikes, like Jobe’s Fertilizer Spikes for Tree and Shrub.
Getting Rid Of Camphor Trees
Maybe you are here because you want to read not about how to plant a camphor tree but about how to get rid of one.
Camphor trees are, after all, an invasive species that can harm other trees, so not everyone is always happy to see them growing up out of the ground.
If you are dealing with a problematic camphor tree, you can replace it with a tree that is not invasive but has similar properties, like a magnolia tree. Magnolia trees are large, evergreen trees with leaves instead of needles, plus they have huge white blooms, so these trees might be the perfect substitute for the invasive camphor tree.
Another option is to use herbicide on top of seedlings and saplings, as the camphor tree is so invasive that it can still grow even if you have cut or mowed it.
Simply apply some herbicide directly to the place where you cut the camphor trees or the area where they were growing.
That’s A Wrap!
Now that you have learned more about camphor trees, you may have either made up your mind to plant one or changed your mind about this controversial tree species.
Either way, you now have more information to help you analyze the uses of these huge trees and consider how their invasive nature impacts gardens, yards, and forests in the United States.
References
Hamidpour, R., Hamidpour, S., Hamidpour, M., & Shahlari, M. (2013). Camphor (Cinnamomum camphora), is a traditional remedy with the history of treating several diseases. Int. J. Case Rep. Images, 4(2), 86-89.
Malabadi, R. B., Kolkar, K. P., Meti, N. T., & Chalannavar, R. K. (2021). An age old botanical weapon for herbal therapy: Camphor tree, Cinnamomum camphora. Int. J. Innov. Sci. Res, 3, 1518-1523.
Zhou, Y., & Yan, W. (2016). Conservation and applications of camphor tree (Cinnamomum camphora) in China: ethnobotany and genetic resources. Genetic Resources and Crop Evolution, 63, 1049-1061.
