#80 Persea borbonia Common Names: red bay Family: Lauraceae (laurel Family) Get link to this Profile or click for data record #80 e-mail this page

Description
This graceful evergreen tree attains heights to 70' and can reach 3' in diameter. It develops a dense, pyramidal crown with gently drooping branches. The bright green, persistent, aromatic leaves are simple and oblong or lance shaped and 3"-4" long. Its fruit is a small bright blue to shiny black drupe. It has slender twigs and reddish-brown scaly bark.

Location
Red bay is most common on rich, moist sites along streams and swamp borders on the Atlantic and Gulf coasts of the United States. It is found from southern Delaware to east Texas and south Florida.

Culture
Light: Light shade.
Moisture: Moist to somewhat dry.
Hardiness: USDA Zones 7 to 9.
Propagation: Seeds.

Usage
This tree is best suited to planting in combination with other wet woodland trees and shrubs in groves or as a specimen. The wood of red bay has been used sparingly in interior finishing as well as in boat construction.

Features
Red bay has very aromatic leaves which can be substituted for the common spice, bay leaf, which normally is obtained from bay laurel (Laurus nobilis), a European species in the same family.

sl 08/17/97

Copyright 1996 - 2008 Floridata.com LC Tallahassee, Florida USA