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Malosma laurina

laurel sumac

Anacardiaceae

Southern California and northern Baja California

Attracts Pollinators Attracts Butterflies Drought Tolerant

Native to North America

SunFull Sun

WaterLow · drought-tolerant

HardinessZones 9–10

Overview

Malosma laurina is an evergreen shrub or small tree reaching 6-20 feet (1.8-6 m) tall and about as wide, with many stems rising from the base into a rounded crown. Leaves are lance-shaped to oblong, 2-4 inches (5-10 cm) long, leathery, and folded upward along the reddish midrib, with a faint scent of bitter almond when crushed. New growth and leaf stalks are tinged red. Small whitish flowers are packed into branched terminal clusters 2-6 inches (5-15 cm) long from late spring through summer. These ripen to tiny whitish, single-seeded fruits about 0.1 inch (2-3 mm) wide that persist into winter. Growth is fast where water is available, and plants resprout from a woody basal burl after fire. Foliage is killed by temperatures below about 25 F (-4 C), which limits the plant to mild coastal and foothill zones.

Native Range

Native to southern California and northern Baja California, in coastal sage scrub and chaparral on slopes and canyons below about 3,000 feet (900 m). It often grows on deeper soils and near drainages where moisture lasts longer.

Suggested Uses

Used in habitat restoration, erosion control on slopes, and large native plantings in southern California, spaced 8-12 feet (2.4-3.7 m) apart. Its size and frost sensitivity limit it to mild-climate, open settings rather than small gardens.

How to Identify

Recognized by leathery lance-shaped leaves 2-4 inches (5-10 cm) long folded upward along a red midrib, and by branched clusters of small white flowers at the branch tips. Crushed leaves smell faintly of bitter almond. The whitish fruit and folded leaves separate it from Rhus integrifolia, which has flat, toothed leaves and reddish fruit.

Appearance

Size & Dimensions

Height6' - 20'

Width/Spread6' - 20'

Colors

Flower Colors

Foliage Colors

Fall Foliage Colors

Bloom Information

Bloom Period

~4 weeks

Spring Summer

Flowers from late spring through summer, mainly May to July, later than most chaparral shrubs. The white flower clusters last 3-5 weeks. Fruit ripens by late summer and remains on the plant into winter.

Detailed Descriptions

Foliage Description

green with red midrib

Growing Conditions

Sun Requirements

SunFull Sun

Requires 6-12 hours of direct sunlight daily

• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight

• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight

• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight

Soil Requirements

pH Range6.0 - 7.5(Neutral)

357912

Soil Types

sand loam clay rocky

Drainagewell drained

Water & Climate

Water Needs

Low

Frost Tolerance

tender

Time to Maturity

3-5 years

Drought Tolerance

Drought tolerant when established

Care & Maintenance

Care Guide

Grows in full sun on well-drained slopes and tolerates sandy to clay soils. Water deeply but infrequently while young; established plants survive on winter rainfall and summer fog along the coast. It is sensitive to cold and dies back when temperatures drop below 25 F (-4 C), and was historically used as a marker for siting frost-tender citrus. Root rot develops with summer irrigation in heavy soil. After fire or cutting, plants regrow quickly from the basal burl. The fast growth and large size need room away from buildings.

Pruning

Prune in late summer or fall to shape or reduce size; the shrub tolerates hard cutting and resprouts from the base. Thinning interior stems improves air movement and reduces dead wood. Pruned plants regrow quickly during the wet season.

Pruning Schedule

summerfall