Persea borbonia var. borbonia
Photo by Louise Raterman. Photograph belongs to the photographer who allows use for FNPS purposes only. Please contact the photographer for all other uses.
Natural Range in Florida
USDA Zones
Suitable to grow in:
10A 10B 11 8A 8B 9A 9B
2002-2022, Copyright Florida Native Plant Society
Red Bay
Lauraceae
Also known as Persea borbonia
Plant Specifics
| Size: | 20-70 ft tall by 10-20 ft wide | |
| Life Span: | Long-lived perennial | |
| Flower Color: | White | |
| Phenology: | Evergreen. Inconspicuous flowers in spring. Fruit ripens in fall. | |
| Habitats: | Upland hardwood forests, dry mesic hammocks, calcareous hammocks. Sometime associated with wetlands. |
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. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Light: | Full Sun, Part Shade | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Moisture Tolerance: |
always floodedextremely dry |
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| 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 Tolerance: | Moderate. Tolerant of salty wind and may get some salt spray. Exposure to salt spray would be uncommon (major storms). | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Soil/Substrate: | Humus (organic, upland), Loam, Sand | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Wildlife
Fruits eaten and dispersed by 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).