Persea borbonia var. borbonia
Red Bay
Lauraceae
Also known as Persea borbonia
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 | |
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. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Propagation: | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Availability: | - | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Light: | Full Sun, Part Shade | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Moisture Tolerance: |
always floodedextremely dry |
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(Usually moist, occasional inundation ----- to ----- Very long very dry periods) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Moisture Tolerance: | Usually moist, occasional inundation ----- to ----- Very long very dry periods | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Salt Water Flooding Tolerance: | Not salt tolerant of inundation by salty or brackish water. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Salt Spray/ Salty Soil Tolerance: | Moderate. Tolerant of salty wind and may get some salt spray. Exposure to salt spray would be uncommon (major storms). | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Soil or other substrate: | Loam, Sand | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Soil pH: |
Ecology
Wildlife: |
Fruits dispersed by birds. | |
Insects: |
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Native Habitats: | Upland hardwood forests, dry mesic hammocks, calcareous hammocks. |
Distribution and Planting Zones
Natural Range in Florida
USDA Zones
Suitable to grow in:
10A 10B 11 8A 8B 9A 9B

USDA zones are based on minimum winter temperatures
Comments
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! |