Persea palustris

The Swamp Red Bay is a small evergreen tree native to the bogs and baygalls of much of the Atlantic sea board as well as the Gulf coast. It rarely exceeds about 30'H but may reach 50' or more under good conditions. Like the Bay Leaf or Sweet Bay of cooking, the leaves of the Swamp Red Bay can be used for similar purposes. Caterpillar host for the Spicebush Swallowtail butterfly. For best results provide the Swamp Red Bay with a consistently moist acidic soil in an area that receives 6 or more hours of direct sun per day. The Swamp Red Bay and Red Bay, Persea palustris and P. borbonia respectively, are both under threat from multiple foreign pests.