# laurel sumac (*Malosma laurina*) Laurel sumac is a lovely shrub that grows in warm, sunny places. It has shiny green leaves and can produce small, sweet-smelling flowers that attract butterflies and bees! - **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 4 - **Habitat:** Coastal areas ![laurel sumac](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Malosma_laurina_1.jpg&width=800) Photo: Justin Taylor from Encinitas, USA, CC BY 2.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Malosma_laurina_1.jpg) ## Appearance The laurel sumac has glossy, dark green, leathery leaves that often appear twisted, growing on distinctive reddish branches. Its small, creamy-white flowers grow in dense, upright clusters, standing out against its deep green foliage. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Magnoliopsida - **Order:** Sapindales - **Family:** Anacardiaceae - **Genus:** Malosma ## Interesting facts - Its leaves smell spicy and peppery when crushed, like a secret seasoning! - Native peoples once used its berries to brew a refreshing, tart lemonade-like drink! - Some of its seeds need the heat of a fire to finally wake up and grow! - You can tell it's a laurel sumac by its distinctive reddish-purple new branches! ## Special abilities - **Fire Resilience:** laurel sumac can quickly resprout from its woody base after a wildfire, allowing it to recover fast. - **Drought Buster:** laurel sumac has deep taproots and leathery leaves that help it survive long periods without water. - **Scent Shield:** laurel sumac's aromatic oils in its leaves may deter some hungry herbivores from munching. ## Measurements & details - **Height:** 300-500 cm - **Spread:** 300-500 cm - **Flower Size:** 0.3-0.5 cm - **Bloom Season:** Late spring to summer - **Edible:** Yes - **Toxicity:** None - **Lifecycle:** Perennial - **Pollination Method:** Insect ## Ecological connections - **Pollinates:** European Honey Bee (*Apis mellifera*) — collects nectar and pollen - **Shelter:** [Blue-gray Gnatcatcher](https://www.snappit.app/explore/blue-gray-gnatcatcher) (*Polioptila caerulea*) — builds nests in its dense branches - **Eats:** [Mule Deer](https://www.snappit.app/explore/mule-deer) (*Odocoileus hemionus*) — browses on its leaves and young shoots - **Shelter:** [Western Gray Squirrel](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-gray-squirrel) (*Sciurus griseus*) — rests and hides in its canopy ## Traits - [Aromatic](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/aromatic): Aromatic plants produce and emit fragrant volatile organic compounds, often for defense or to attract pollinators. - [Flowering](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/flowering): Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle. - [Shrub](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/shrub): A shrub is a woody plant smaller than a tree, typically with multiple stems branching from or near the ground. - [Evergreen](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/evergreen): Evergreen plants retain their foliage throughout the year, never shedding all their leaves at once. - [Fragrant Flower](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/fragrant-flower): Fragrant flowers emit a pleasant aroma, often to attract pollinators or for defense. - [Medicinal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/medicinal): Medicinal plants possess chemical compounds that can be used for therapeutic purposes to treat illnesses or maintain health. - [Drought Tolerant](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/drought-tolerant): Drought-tolerant plants can survive and flourish in conditions with limited water availability. - [Pollinator Magnet](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator-magnet): Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms. - [Coastal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/coastal): Coastal habitats are dynamic environments located along the interface between land and sea, influenced by tides, waves, and saltwater. - [Keystone Species](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/keystone-species): Describes a species whose presence and role have a disproportionately large effect on its environment. ## Collections - [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Always look but don't touch plants unless an adult says it's okay. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify laurel sumac? 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 laurel sumac? 300-500 cm ### How wide does laurel sumac spread? 300-500 cm ### How big are the flowers on laurel sumac? 0.3-0.5 cm ### When does laurel sumac bloom? Late spring to summer ### Is laurel sumac edible? Yes ### Is laurel sumac toxic? None ### What is laurel sumac's lifecycle? Perennial ## Where to spot - [Cabrillo National Monument](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/cabrillo-national-monument) — California, US · National Park - [Crystal Cove Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/crystal-cove-historic-district) — California, US · Historic District - [Point Dume State Beach](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/point-dume-state-beach) — California, US · State Park - [South Coast Botanic Garden](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/south-coast-botanic-garden) — California, US · Botanical Garden - [Campo de Cahuenga](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/campo-de-cahuenga) — California, US · Historic District - [Gen. Charles S. Farnsworth County Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/gen-charles-s-farnsworth-county-park) — California, US · Botanical Garden [View all places to see laurel sumac](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/laurel-sumac) ## 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: [Laurel Sumac: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/laurel-sumac)