Cinnamomum camphora (camphor, "Kusunoki")

Japanese name: クスノキ （楠、樟）
Scientific name: Cinnamomum camphora

[Overview]
An evergreen tree reaching 20 m or more in height and 2 m in diameter.
The bark has fine, deep fissures.
Young branches are green.
Leaves are simple and alternate, ovate to elliptic, 6–10 cm long and 3–6 cm wide, with entire margins.
Three veins are conspicuous on the leaf, and the upper surface is glossy.
Old leaves turn red.
The leaf stalk is 1.5–2.5 cm long.
Panicles arise from the leaf axils and bear sparse flowers.
The flowers are about 5 mm across and pale yellow to yellowish green.
The fruit is a spherical berry 7–8 mm in diameter, glossy and ripening black.

[Uses]
The whole plant is aromatic, and insect-repelling camphor was obtained from the wood and leaves.
Because the wood is not easily eaten by insects, it is also used for Buddhist statues, mokugyo (wooden drums), butsudan (household Buddhist altars) and the like.

[Cultivation]
Propagate from seed.
The germination rate drops if the seeds dry out, so take ripe fruits, wash off the pulp thoroughly, and sow immediately, or store the seeds without letting them dry and sow in spring.
It prefers sunny, humus-rich soil with moderate moisture, but is not particular about soil unless it is extremely poor.
It is not very cold-hardy and is unsuitable for cold regions.
Because it becomes a large tree, it needs plenty of space.
There are no particular pests or diseases.

[Notes]
Because it grows fast, is long-lived and becomes a large tree, some individual trees have been designated Natural Monuments.

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