FNPS Plant Database

Persea palustris

swamp bay
  • Photo by: Shirley Denton, Suncoast Chapter FNPS

Nomenclature

Common Name:

swamp bay

Synonym(s):

Genus species:

Persea palustris

Family:

Lauraceae

Plant Specifics

Form:

tree

Size:

15-30 (50) ft

Life Span:

Long-lived perennial

Flower Color:

white

Fruit Color:

black

Phenology:

evergreen

Noted For:

Aroma/Showy Fruitsagrance

Landscaping

Recommended Uses:

If you have this plant in your landscape, retain it to supply larval food for the spicebush swallowtail and other butterflies.

Considerations:

Do not move deadwood. It will spread the disease.

Availability:

Propagation:

Light:

Full Sun, Part Sun

Moisture Tolerance:

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

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Usually moist, occasional inundation -to- Somewhat moist, no flooding

Salt Water Flooding Tolerance:

Unknown

Salt Spray/Salty Soil Tolerance:

Some tolerance to salty wind but not direct salt spray

Soil or Other Substrate:

Sand, Loam, Organic

Soil pH:

acidic

Suitable to Grow In:

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

USDA zones are based on the average annual extreme minimum winter temperature.

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Vouchered In:

Distribution
Vouchered
Not vouchered
Selected
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No county distribution is available for this plant yet.
Starting…
Map coded by Melissa Fernandez-de Cespedes (Paynes Prairie Chapter)

Ecology

Wildlife:

Pollinators, Caterpillars, Birds



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


  • Attracts bees.


Seed eaten and dispersed by birds.

Native Habitats:

Shallow areas in swamps, hydric savannas, seep slopes including cutthroat seeps, wet flatwoods, sloughs.

Natural Range in Florida:

Comments:

Ethnobotany:

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!

FNPS Plant Print

Citations:

Andreu, M. G., Friedman, M. H., McKenzie, M., & Quintana, H. V. (2010). Persea palustris, Swamp Bay: FOR 260/FR322. ( https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/publication/FR322 ). Accessed 2026. Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville.


Osorio, Rufino. (2001). A Gardener's Guide to Florida's Native Plants. University Press of Florida, Gainesville.


Minno, Marc, and Maria Minno. (1999). Florida Butterfly Gardening: A Complete Guide to Attracting, Identifying, and Enjoying Butterflies. University Press of Florida, Gainesville.


Traas, Pamela. (2001). Gardening for Florida's Butterflies. Great Outdoors Publishing Co., St. Petersburg, FL.


Wunderlin, R. P., B. F. Hansen, A. R. Franck, and F. B. Essig. (1999+). Atlas of Florida Plants. ( https://florida.plantatlas.usf.edu/ ). [S. M. Landry and K. N. Campbell (application development), USF Water Institute.] Institute for Systematic Botany, University of South Florida, Tampa.

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