Photo by: Shirley Denton, Suncoast Chapter FNPS
Photo by: Louise Raterman
Photo by: Louise Raterman
Photo by: Louise Raterman
Photo by: Louise Raterman

Nomenclature

Common Name:

red bay

Synonym(s):

Persea borbonia

Genus species:

Persea borbonia var. borbonia

Family:

Lauraceae

Plant Specifics

Form:

tree

Size:

20-70 ft tall by 10-20 ft wide

Life Span:

Long-lived perennial

Flower Color:

white

Fruit Color:

NA

Phenology:

Evergreen. Inconspicuous flowers in spring. Fruit ripens in fall.

Noted For:

Interesting Foliage

Landscaping

Recommended Uses:

This and other bays are being attacked by a fatal disease (laurel wilt disease). Avoid spreading this plant, it is best not to plant this or other bays.

Considerations:

Subject to laural wilt, which is spread by the redbay ambrosia beetle. Do not move dead wood. Allow sprouts from stumps to grow to supply larval food for the spicebush swallow tail and other butterflies.

Availability:

Propagation:

Light:

Full Sun, Part Sun

Moisture Tolerance:

Always Flooded------------------------------------------------Extremely Dry

Coming Soon!

Usually moist, occasional inundation ---to--- Very long very dry periods

Salt Water Flooding Tolerance:

Unknown

Salt Spray/Salty Soil Tolerance:

Moderate. Tolerant of salty wind and may get some salt spray.

Soil or Other Substrate:

Sand, Loam

Soil pH:

Suitable to Grow In:

8A,8B,9A,9B,10A,10B

Ecology

Wildlife:

Pollinators, Caterpillars, Birds

Larval host plant for palamedes swallowtail ( Papilio palamedes) and spicebush swallowtail ( Papilio troilus ) butterflies.





Attracts bees including  Colletes banksi, C. brimleyi, C. nudus, Augochloropsis metallica, Evylaeuspectoralis, Epeolus zonatus, Apis mellifera (honeybee) and  Bombus impatiens (Deyrup et al. 2002).

Fruits eaten and dispersed by birds.

Native Habitats:

Upland hardwood forests, dry mesic hammocks, calcareous hammocks. Sometime associated with wetlands.

Natural Range in Florida:

Comments:

Ethnobotany:

Leaves can be used in cooking.

General Comments:

This species and other members of the Lauraceae are being attacked by a serious, fatal disease. Do not plant this plant unless you are absolutely sure that it is not infected!