Tamala borbonia (Linnaeus) Rafinesque. Common name: Red Bay, Tisswood, Smooth Red Bay. Phenology: May-Jun; Sep-Oct. Habitat: Hammocks, dunes, maritime forests, in dry sandy soils on barrier islands. Distribution: E. NC (Carteret County) south to s. FL and west to s. TX; reports of the species north of NC are based on the inclusion of T. palustris in a broadly defined T. borbonia, or are simply in error, based on less hairy plants of T. palustris. This species is uncommon to rare north of FL and becoming rarer with the destruction of most maritime and near coastal upland forests for the construction of vacation homes and tourist accommodations.
Origin/Endemic status: Endemic
Synonymy ⓘ: = POWO, van der Werff & Richter (1996); = Laurus borbonia L. = Persea borbonia (L.) Spreng. — Ar, FNA3, G, GW2, K4, NS, Godfrey (1988), Shearman, Wang, & Mayfield (2022); = Persea borbonia (L.) Spreng. var. borbonia — Fl2, WH3; < Persea borbonia (L.) Spreng. — F, RAB, Tx; > Persea littoralis Small; > Tamala borbonia (L.) Raf. — S, S13; > Tamala littoralis (Small) Small — S, S13. Basionym: Laurus borbonia L. 1753
Links to other floras: = Persea borbonia - FNA3
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Wetland Indicator Status:
- Atlantic and Gulf Coastal Plain: FACW (name change)
- Great Plains: FACW (name change)
Heliophily ⓘ: 6
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© Adam Arendell | Original Image ⭷
© Adam Arendell | Original Image ⭷
© Adam Arendell | Original Image ⭷Feedback
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Horticultural Information
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Height: Usually to 40 ft.
plant sale text: Red bay is a member of the laurel family and is chiefly grown for its handsome evergreen foliage. Small dark blue to blackish fruits appear in the fall and provide a valuable food source for birds. This Southeastern native species is found growing in coastal areas, particularly in swamps, from Delaware to Florida. Another common name for this species is "Florida Mahogany" due to its fine wood. Although easy to grow, red bay is infrequently offered for sale. The genus Persea supports up to 16 species of lepidoptera.
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native range: southeastern United States
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