Native to the southeastern United States, the Carolina Laurel Cherry is a versatile tree with fragrant spring flowers. Although its cherries are not for human consumption, they are a food source for various types of wildlife.

It is a small evergreen flowering tree that grows up to 43 ft tall. The leaves are dark green, alternate, shiny, leathery, elliptic to oblanceolate, long, and usually have an entirely smooth margin. When crushed, the leaves and green twigs emit a fragrance resembling maraschino cherries or almost extractions.

Fragrant white to cream-colored flowers are produced in racemes long in the late winter to early spring. The fruits are tiny black cherries, which persist through winter and are primarily consumed by birds.

Source: Wikipedia.