Search Fact Sheets Virginia Tech Dendrology

redbay Lauraceae Persea borbonia (L.) Spreng. Listen to the Latin Print a QR link to this factsheet symbol: PEBO
Leaf: Alternate, simple, entire margins, lance-shaped, evergreen, 3 to 7 inches long, 1 to 2 inches wide, spicy odor when crushed, dark green above, pale green below.
Flower: Small, light yellow-green occurring in small, clusters in leaf axils.
Fruit: Dark blue, round drupe, 1/3 to 1/2 inch, mature in early fall.
Twig: Moderately stout, green with brownish hairs, angled or ridged, buds are short and covered in rusty colored hairs.
Bark: Reddish brown, irregular furrows with flat-topped ridges, quite thick.
Form: Large shrub or small tree, 30 to 40 feet tall.
 Looks like: swampbay - camphortree - sweetbay magnolia - loblolly bay

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Additional Range Information: Persea borbonia is native to North America. Range may be expanded by planting. Download the full-size PDF map.
External Links: USDAFS Silvics of North America - USDAFS FEIS Silvics - USDA Plants Database - Horticulture Information - USDAFS Forest Products Lab
All material 2025 Virginia Tech Dept. of Forest Resources and Environmental Conservation; Photos and text by: John Seiler, Edward Jensen, Alex Niemiera, and John Peterson; Silvics reprinted from Ag Handbook 654; range map source information