The genus name Camphora is the Latin form of ‘camphor’ and the species name officinarum means that this is the species used in the manufacture of Camphor. This species was previously known as Cinnamomum camphora, but when molecular studies showed that the old concept of Cinnamomum was not monophyletic, and could be separated into two clades, the genus was split into two genera: Cinnamomum and Camphora. Camphora is a genus of about 20 species, and Cinnamomum is now a genus of about 225 species. Both belong in the Lauraceae, a family with a worldwide distribution and which also includes Laurel (Laurus nobilis), Avocado (Persea americana) and Stinkwood (Ocotea bullata).

The camphor trees in Kirstenbosch were planted in 1898, before it was proclaimed a botanical garden in 1913. Cecil John Rhodes planted an avenue of trees along his favourite ride from his residence in Newlands to Constantia Nek, choosing species from various parts of the British Empire. This track became Rhodes Drive. The section of Rhodes Drive that runs through Kirstenbosch includes an avenue of camphor trees (Camphora officinarum), and one of Moreton Bay figs (Ficus macrophylla) from Australia and stone pines (Pinus pinea) from southern Europe. Just south of the garden, in the direction of Hout Bay, the road is lined with Spanish chestnuts (Castanea sativa) and then cork oaks (Quercus suber). Because it has a steep gradient, making it difficult and dangerous to use during the wet season (before the road was tarred), the Camphor Avenue through Kirstenbosch was closed to vehicular traffic in 1916 and a deviation road was built to the east. Although the mandate for the National Botanical Gardens of South Africa is to grow only indigenous southern African species, the camphor trees of the Camphor Avenue were left in place as heritage trees.