Swamp Bay Persea palustris
- Phonetic Spelling
- PER-see-uh pal-US-triss
- Description
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Swamp Bay is a medium-sized evergreen tree in the laurel family native to the southeastern U.S.A. and commonly found in the coastal plain areas of NC.
Habitat: Swamps, pocosins, bay forests, maritime forests, generally in wet peaty soils, but also in fairly dry, sandy soils in maritime forests
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: This tree is in grave danger from a fungus (Ophiostoma sp.) carried by the Redbay Ambrosia beetle introduced from Asia. Many of the trees in the southeastern part of North Carolina have died. This plant is also susceptible to laurel wilt.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Persea
- Species:
- palustris
- Family:
- Lauraceae
- Uses (Ethnobotany):
- Native Americans used the plant medicinally.
- Life Cycle:
- Woody
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Southeastern U.S.A. to TX, Bahamas
- Wildlife Value:
- This plant is a larval host for Spicebush Swallowtail and Palamedes Swallowtail. The fruit is eaten by birds and small mammals.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Native Plant
- Tree
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Habit/Form:
- Erect
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Soil Drainage:
- Occasionally Dry
- Occasionally Wet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b, 11a, 11b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Blue
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Fruit Type:
- Drupe
- Fruit Description:
- Dark blue fruit on hairy reddish stalks from September to October.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Insignificant
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Flower Petals:
- 2-3 rays/petals
- Flower Description:
- Small, light yellow-green flowers occurring in small clusters in leaf axils from May to June.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Glossy
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Hairs Present:
- Yes
- Leaf Length:
- 3-6 inches
- Leaf Description:
- 2-8 inch long and 1-2 inch wide green leaves are lanceolate with entire margins. Upper surface is dark green and shiny, undersides is a silvery-white color with an orange tinge from pubescence that occurs primarily along the midvein.
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Bark:
- Bark Color:
- Dark Brown
- Dark Gray
- Red/Burgundy
- Bark Description:
- The bark ranges from red to grayish-brown with irregular furrows with flat-topped ridges, quite thick.
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Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Surface:
- Hairy (pubescent)
- Stem Description:
- Densely rusty pubescent twigs
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Coastal
- Landscape Theme:
- Butterfly Garden
- Native Garden
- Attracts:
- Butterflies
- Songbirds
- Problems:
- Frequent Disease Problems
