• Large spreading evergreen tree to 20m from China and Japan; bark is grey-brown with deep vertical cracks. Poisonous.
• Leaves are light green and glossy with a wavy margin and yellow mid-rib; the lower surface is dull green. They smell strongly of camphor when crushed. Twigs are often red.
• Masses of small white insignificant flowers occur in spring.
• Fruit is a 10 mm black berry ripening in autumn and early winter.

Spread by birds and possums into bushland.

Invades moist bushland slopes and gullies, creating dense shade, competing with and taking over from native species, and continuing to inhibit their regeneration even after its removal.

Lower Blue Mountains.

Water Gum (Tristaniopsis laurina) to 15m; Lillypilly (Acmena smithii) to 10m; Blue Cherry (Syzgium oleosum) to 8m. Holm Oak (Quercus ilex) to 15m; Bay Laurel (Laurus nobilis) to 6m.

A difficult tree to control: Camphor Laurel reshoots after cutting and poisoning, and it also suckers from its roots. Hand pull seedlings. Be prepared for considerable follow-up work. If removing these trees from waterways or very steep land, advice must be sought from the Department of Infrastructure, Planning and Resources (phone: 4721 0188).