# Camphor (*camphora officinarum*) The Camphor tree is known for its aromatic leaves that smell like mint! It's a great tree to find in parks and gardens, and its leaves can be used to make fragrant oil. - **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 1 - **Habitat:** Camphor trees thrive in warm, moist environments, often found in forests and gardens. - **Also known as:** Camphor Laurel, Camphor Tree, Cinnamomum Camphora ![Camphor](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Cinnamomum_camphora20050314.jpg&width=800) Photo: CC BY-SA 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Cinnamomum_camphora20050314.jpg) ## Appearance The Camphor tree is a large evergreen with a dense, spreading crown and deeply fissured, light brown bark. Its glossy, dark green leaves are oval-shaped, turning reddish before falling, and tiny, greenish-white flowers appear in spring. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Magnoliopsida - **Order:** Laurales - **Family:** Lauraceae - **Genus:** Cinnamomum ## Interesting facts - Its super strong wood was once used to build ancient ships and beautiful temples! - Many perfumes and soaps use special chemicals inspired by the camphor's scent! - Some camphor trees in Japan are over 1,000 years old and incredibly enormous! - When you crush its leaves, they smell just like a cough drop or chest rub! ## Special abilities - **Scent Shield:** Camphor can release a strong, distinctive aroma that helps deter pests and herbivores from munching on its leaves. - **Evergreen Power:** Camphor has tough, glossy evergreen leaves that help it survive droughts and stay green and productive all year long. - **Chemical Factory:** Camphor has special glands in its leaves and wood that produce camphor, a powerful chemical for defense and medicine. ## Measurements & details - **Height:** 2000-3000 cm - **Spread:** 1000-2000 cm - **Flower Size:** 0.2-0.5 cm - **Bloom Season:** Spring - **Edible:** No - **Toxicity:** Moderate - **Lifecycle:** Perennial - **Pollination Method:** Insect ## Ecological connections - **Pollinates:** European Honey Bee (*Apis mellifera*) — collects nectar from its flowers - **Eaten by:** [American Robin](https://www.snappit.app/explore/american-robin) (*Turdus migratorius*) — consumes its small, dark berries - **Eats:** Common Mormon (*Papilio polytes*) — caterpillars feed on its leaves ## Traits - [Herbaceous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/herbaceous): Herbaceous plants are non-woody plants with soft stems that typically die back to the ground at the end of the growing season. - [Aromatic](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/aromatic): Aromatic plants produce and emit fragrant volatile organic compounds, often for defense or to attract pollinators. - [Solitary](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/solitary): Solitary animals live alone for most of their lives, only interacting with others for mating or parental care. - [Evergreen](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/evergreen): Evergreen plants retain their foliage throughout the year, never shedding all their leaves at once. - [Forest](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/forest): Forest habitats are terrestrial environments dominated by dense tree cover, supporting a high diversity of plant and animal life. ## Collections - [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Camphor oil should be used carefully and not ingested. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Camphor? Start with the whole plant, then compare leaf arrangement, leaf edges, stems and any flowers or fruit. Opposite leaves grow in pairs; alternate leaves come one at a time along the stem. These details tell you far more together than a single green leaf does. Plant Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How tall is Camphor? 2000-3000 cm ### How wide does Camphor spread? 1000-2000 cm ### How big are the flowers on Camphor? 0.2-0.5 cm ### When does Camphor bloom? Spring ### Is Camphor edible? No ### Is Camphor toxic? Moderate ### What is Camphor's lifecycle? Perennial ## Where to spot - [Jekyll Island Club](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/jekyll-island-club) — Georgia, US · Historic District - [Booster Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/booster-park) — California, US · Park - [Beppu Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/beppu-park) — Kyushu, JP · Park - [Genkai Quasi-National Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/genkai-quasi-national-park) — Kyushu, JP · Park - [West Lake Underhill Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/west-lake-underhill-park) — Florida, US · Park - [Kagamino Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/kagamino-park) — Shikoku, JP · Park [View all places to see Camphor](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/camphor) ## More Plants - [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*) - [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*) - [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*) - [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*) --- Source: [Camphor: Characteristics, Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/camphor)