Search Fact Sheets Virginia Tech Dendrology

swampbay Lauraceae Persea palustris (Raf.) Sarg. Listen to the Latin Print a QR link to this factsheet symbol: PEPA37
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 pubescent below, with rusty hairs along the midrib.
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, densely covered 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 feet tall.
Looks like: redbay - camphortree - sweetbay magnolia - loblolly bay

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Additional Range Information: Persea palustris is native to North America. Range may be expanded by planting. Download the full-size PDF map.
External Links: USDA Plants Database - USDAFS Forest Products Lab
All material © 2021 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