What’s this tree?

[cpp gardener]

I found a tree I don’t recognize. It’s on our campus in an area that doesn’t get any irrigation or much attention from our grounds crew. It’s just kind of a blob that fills a space.

We originally thought it was a Xylosma, we have a lot of them in that general area, but closer inspection determined that it’s something else.
Any help is greatly appreciated.

 

[Tetters]

We think it looks like a peach tree

 

[Tetters]

It looks like the Xylosma has red stems and belongs to the Willow family.
Have you seen this tree flower @cpp gardener ?

 

[cpp gardener]

I don't recall what it looks like when it blooms. It must be underwhelming or I've been "blind" to it when it does. Did I mention it doesn't get much attention? It is evergreen, so definitely not a peach. We were thinking Xylosma simply because we have so many and from a distance (where we usually look at it) it looks like one of them. I think the pointy buds you can see in pics 2, 3, and 4 are flower buds and should open and give the identity away in a month or so. They're all at the branch tips and the ones further down are barely noticeable. What I think it is is Prunus lusitanica or laurocerasus.

 

[Sheal]

The bark doesn't look like Prunus to me. The leaves and flower buds resemble Brachychiton Populneus.

 

[cpp gardener]

Most definitely not Brachychiton. We have many of those and this is so unlike them I know it's not that.

 

[roadrunner]

It's probably not, but I'd check anyway. This video shows how to tell if it's a Camphor tree. An easy test is to crush leaves and check for strong smell of camphor...see below video

 

[cpp gardener]

Again, most definitely not Camphor Tree.

 

[Sheal]

Perhaps you can take photo's when the flowers have opened. They would help identification.

 

[cpp gardener]

That is the plan. The University does have a Plant Science Dept that absorbed the Ornamental Horticulture program and I know (cuz I was here as a student) that several of the instructors were plant nerds like me and planted weird stuff on campus. Unfortunately they've all retired/died and I can't ask them. Thank you all for your suggestions and I'll be sure to post some pictures when it blooms.

 

[roadrunner]

Again, most definitely not Camphor Tree.

Again...???? I didn't know you already ruled it out.

 

[cpp gardener]

Sorry, I should have said "like the Brachychiton".
I have a BS in Ornamental Horticulture from this University and 40 years experience in retail nurseries and landscape management, so I recognize all the typical SoCal trees. This is different for here, but maybe not for Europe or other areas in the US.

 

[SeniorCitizen]

Pic app says Black Cherry

 

[cpp gardener]

It's evergreen. I think it's either Prunus lusitanica or laurocerasus. They do grow in this climate, but they are very uncommon around here, so I'm not that familiar with them. It's been decades since I've seen laurocerasus and I've only seen lusitanica in books.

 

[Tetters]

Crown of laurels: If you fancy a spot of amateur topiary avoid the poisonous, aggressively invasive cherry laurel, and go for the beautiful Portuguese variety

The bay (Laurus nobilis) is the only 'true' laurel grown widely in this country, although in other parts of the world there are more than 2,500 other species of tree and shrub laurel.

www.dailymail.co.uk

I have posted the above link for you to look at @cpp gardener - just for the sake of interest.