How to Plant Camphor Seeds

Overview

The camphor tree (Cinnamomum camphora) is also referred to as camphor laurel, gum camphor and laurel camphor. It is an indigenous plant to Korea, Taiwan, Japan, China and other parts of eastern Asia. The camphor tree is a tall-growing evergreen tree, often reaching heights of between 50 to 100 feet. The camphor tree is grown for medicinal properties as well as for its ornamental values. Plant camphor trees where they will receive full sun to partial shade and make sure they're provided fertile, sandy soil.

Step 1

Dampen about 1 to 1 1/2 cups of sphagnum moss. It should not be dripping wet, but moist to the touch. Put the moistened sphagnum moss into a polythene sealable bag.

Step 2

Place your camphor seeds into the polythene sealable bag. Put the bag and its entire contents into a location which will remain around 40 degrees F. Leave the bag in its cold storage location for approximately four months.

Step 3

Remove the polythene bag from where it has been stored. Separate the camphor seeds from the sphagnum moss.

Step 4

Put the camphor tree seeds into a bowl which contains a 15 percent solution of hydrogen peroxide. Let the camphor tree seeds soak for approximately 25 minutes.

Step 5

Place a good quality seed-starting mix into individual 4-inch pots or into a seed-starting tray. Pack down the soil in the tray or pots until you are sure it's been well packed. Place the tray or 4-inch pots into an irrigation tray that has about 1 inch of water in it. Let the tray pots soak up the water until you see the soil become visibly well dampened, then pour off the extra water.

Step 6

Remove the seeds from the hydrogen peroxide solution. Poke 1/2-inch deep holes into the 4-inch pots or in the seed starting tray. If starting seeds in a tray, keep the holes that about 1 inch apart. Drop one to two camphor seeds into each of the holes and cover with no more than 1/2 inch of the seed-starting mix.

Step 7

Place the entire tray into a warm location. Keep it between 65 and 70 degrees F. Keep the soil on the moist side, adding water to the tray when needed. You can pot up your camphor tree seedlings when they have grown to manageable size, about 2 to 3 inches in height.