Carolina Laurelcherry

Prunus caroliniana

Taxonomy

Division:
Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
Family:
Rosaceae
Genus:
Prunus
Species:
Prunus caroliniana

Growth Characteristics

Life Cycle:
Perennial
Growth Habit:
Shrub , Tree
Height:
20-40 ft
Light Requirements:
Full Sun, Part Shade
Bloom Months:
feb, mar, apr
Bloom Colors:
White
Evergreen Shrub:
Yes
Landscaping Shrub:
Yes

Native Range

United States: Alabama, Arkansas, California, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Texas

Keystone Species Ranking

Caterpillar Keystone:
★☆☆☆☆ Based on number of butterfly and moth species using this genus as host plant (Source: National Wildlife Federation)

Host Plant for Caterpillars

dot-lined white (Artace cribraria), Maple tip borer moth (Episimus tyrius), Western Tiger Swallowtail (Papilio rutulus)

Reported Fauna Sightings

Butterflies:Question Mark (Polygonia interrogationis)

Soil Requirements

Soil Type:
well-drained, sandy to loamy soil
pH:
5.5 - 7.0 (slightly acidic to neutral)
Drainage:
excellent drainage required
Moisture:
dry to moderate
Notes:
native to southeastern U.S. coastal plains

Germination Information

Pre-treatment: Cold-moist stratification for 30 days at 1–5°C (34–41°F).; then Cold-moist stratification for 60 days.

Source: OpenAI GPT-4o