Oregon Myrtle, Coquille River

Oregon myrtle (Umbellularia californica)—also known as California laurel and California bay—is an evergreen tree native to southwestern Oregon and California. This hardy tree can grow in a variety of habitats from bottomlands to mountain slopes and is tolerant of a wide range of soil types.

Oregon myrtle can grow up to 150 feet tall and 5 feet in diameter, though it rarely achieves such size. When growing out in the open, like those pictured here, the tree can resemble a large pincushion.

The tree’s shiny evergreen leaves give off a pungent aroma when bruised and are sold by spice companies as “bay” leaves. Hudson’s Bay Company trappers made tea out of the leaves, which give off the scent of camphor, an ingredient in many cough drops.

Woodworking shops throughout western Oregon make bowls, cabinets, clocks, furniture, and other products out of Oregon-myrtle, which is one of the most highly regarded—and expensive—hardwoods in North America. When the transcontinental railroad was completed in 1869, the occasion was marked by the driving of gold spikes into the line’s final railroad tie, fashioned out of the polished wood of Oregon myrtle.

Further Reading:
Jensen, Edward C., and Charles R. Ross. Trees to Know in Oregon. Extension Circular 1450. Corvallis, Oreg., 1994.

Written by Cain Allen, © Oregon Historical Society, 2003.