Tree to 20 m high; bark greyish brown; branchlets glabrous. Leaves alternative, smelling of camphor when crushed; petioles 1.5–4 cm long; leaf blade ovate to broadly ovate or elliptic, 4–11 cm long, 2.5–6.0 cm wide, adaxial surface glossy green, abaxial surface glaucous; apex abruptly acuminate; base cuneate to obtuse; 3-veined, often with small domatia in the axils. Inflorescence usually not exceeding leaves. Perianth segments widely spreading, 1–2 mm long, white or cream, pubescent on inner surface. Fruit globose, c. 10 mm diam., black. Flowers Aug.–Oct.
Wim, GipP. Also naturalised WA, Qld, NSW. Native to Japan, Taiwan and China.
Planted as an ornamental, sparingly established in Victoria. Cinnamomum camphora is an aggressive weed in native rainforest further north in Australia, particularly along watercourses.
