Persea palustris

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Swamp Bay

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, fragrance

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.
Propagation:
Availability:-
Light: Full Sun,  Part Shade
Moisture Tolerance:
always floodedextremely dry
 (Usually moist, occasional inundation ----- to ----- Somewhat moist, no flooding)
Moisture Tolerance: Usually moist, occasional inundation ----- to ----- Somewhat moist, no flooding
Salt Water Flooding Tolerance:Not salt tolerant of inundation by salty or brackish water.
Salt Spray/ Salty Soil Tolerance:Some tolerance to salty wind but not direct salt spray.
Soil or other substrate:Organic material (muck), Sand
Soil pH:Acidic

Ecology

Wildlife:
 

Seed eaten and dispersed by birds.
Insects:
  

  • Larval host plant for palamedes swallowtail (Papilio palamedes) and spicebush swallowtail (Papilio troilus) butterflies.
  • Attracts bees.
Native Habitats:Shallow areas in swamps, hydric savannas, seep slopes including cutthroat seeps, wet flatwoods, sloughs.

Distribution and Planting Zones

Natural Range in Florida
USDA Zones

Suitable to grow in:
10A 10B 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!