California Bay Laurel

Umbellularia californica (California bay laurel) occurs in the Klamath, Siskiyou, and Coast Ranges from Douglas County, Oregon south to San Diego County, California, and on the western slope of the Sierra Nevada from Shasta County south to Kern County.  It is found along drainages in the Central Valley, California.  Umbellularia californica var. fresnensis occurs in Fresno County, California.

Umbellularia californica is a tree native to coastal forests of western North America. It is the sole species in the genus Umbellularia. It ranges near the coast from Douglas County, Oregon south through California to San Diego County and is also found in the western foothills of the Sierra Nevada mountains. It occurs at altitudes from sea level up to 1600 m.  It is also grown as an ornamental tree, both in its native area, and elsewhere further north up the Pacific coast to Vancouver in Canada, and in western Europe.