California Bay

California Bay aka California Bay Laurel (Umbellularia californica) is a beautiful large broad -leaved evergreen tree has aromatic leaves that can be used as a seasoning like store bought bay leaves. Fast growing and shade tolerant they make a good screen or specimen. Many clusters of yellow flowers in late winter and spring are followed by heavy crops of acorn-like nuts that are relished by wildlife and were a native food source after being processed to leach out the bitter compounds. Also known as Myrtlewood the hard durable wood is much used for carving and woodenware. Zones 7-9.