Lovely Lancewood

At the beginning of the (north) Oslo Riverfront Conservation Area (ORCA) trail grows a great grouping of lancewood trees (Damburneya coriacea).  They have a very vertical growth habit and can grow to be from 20 – 45′ tall and usually are taller than wide (10 – 20′), as this tree growing in full sun in the ORCA parking lot shows …

Its lanceolate leaves range from 3 – 6″ long with a bright yellow midrib and usually a curiously hook-shaped yellow petiole (leafstem) …

The texture of the leaves is coriaceous (leathery), as suggested by the species name, coriacea.  The genus name has changed from Nectandra to Ocotea to the current Dumburneya.

Lancewood is a member of the laurel family, Lauraceae, and, like many members of this family, has aromatic leaves.  Crush up a leaf to release its aromatic fragrance, which is similar to that of commercial bay leaves (Laurel nobilis) and redbay (Persea borbonia).  Lancewood leaves, unlike redbay leaves, do not get galls, and the exotic laurel wilt disease has not striken lancewood trees.

Fragrant panicles creamy white flowers (usually) come during spring or summer.

In full sun flowering can be profuse …

Fruiting occurs from summer through fall.  Fruits ripen from green to dark blue and are almost black when ripe and are held in a distinctive yellow fruit cup …

Fruits (drupes) are oval, about 1/2″, and contain one large seed …

The bark of mature trees becomes reddish brown and warty.  Less mature trees have grey and smooth bark …

Lancewood is uncommon in Indian River County and ranges as far north as Volusia County.  It grows throughout the West Indies, central America, and south America.  The large lancewoods at ORCA died back to the ground in the Christmas freeze of 1989 when temperatures plummeted to 19 degrees for a sustained period of time but quickly re-grew since then.

Lancewood trees grow in sun or partial shade, are drought-tolerant, attract pollinators, feed frugivorous birds and other wildlife, and would make an excellent tree in our landscapes.