# redbay (*Tamala borbonia*) The redbay tree is a tall, evergreen tree with shiny leaves and small, dark berries. It grows in warm, wet areas and provides food and shelter for many animals. - **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 1 - **Habitat:** Wetlands - **Also known as:** Bay Tree, Red Bay ![redbay](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Perseaborbonia.jpg&width=800) Photo: USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database, Public domain · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Perseaborbonia.jpg) ## Appearance The redbay is an evergreen tree with shiny, dark green, lance-shaped leaves that can be crushed for a spicy aroma. It produces small, inconspicuous yellowish-green flowers, followed by clusters of dark blue to black berries. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Magnoliopsida - **Order:** Laurales - **Family:** Lauraceae - **Genus:** Persea ## Interesting facts - Crush a redbay leaf and it smells like a spicy mix of bay laurel and citrus! - Its dark blue-black berries are a tasty snack for over 20 different kinds of birds! - Sailors once used redbay wood to build boats because it's so strong and durable! - This tree is a relative of the avocado, both are in the same plant family! ## Special abilities - **Flavorful Leaves:** Redbay has aromatic leaves that can be used as a spice, helping it deter some herbivores. - **Year-Round Green:** Redbay is evergreen, meaning it keeps its leaves all year, helping it make food even in winter. - **Soil Versatility:** Redbay can grow in both wet swamps and dry uplands, helping it survive in many places. ## Measurements & details - **Height:** 300-2000 cm - **Spread:** 150-1000 cm - **Flower Size:** 0.3-0.5 cm - **Bloom Season:** Spring - **Edible:** Yes - **Toxicity:** None - **Lifecycle:** Perennial - **Pollination Method:** Insect ## Ecological connections - **Depends on:** Redbay Ambrosia Beetle (*Xyleborus glabratus*) — spreads a deadly fungus to redbay trees. - **Eats:** [Eastern Bluebird](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-bluebird) (*Sialia sialis*) — forages on the redbay's nutritious berries. - **Shelter:** [Spicebush Swallowtail](https://www.snappit.app/explore/spicebush-swallowtail) (*Papilio troilus*) — uses the leaves as food for its caterpillars. ## Traits - [Aromatic](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/aromatic): Aromatic plants produce and emit fragrant volatile organic compounds, often for defense or to attract pollinators. - [Broadleaf Tree](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/broadleaf-tree): Broadleaf trees are angiosperms characterized by flat, wide leaves that are typically shed annually in temperate climates. - [Evergreen](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/evergreen): Evergreen plants retain their foliage throughout the year, never shedding all their leaves at once. - [Fruit Bearing](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/fruit-bearing): Fruit-bearing plants produce fruits, which are the mature ovaries of flowering plants containing seeds. - [Medicinal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/medicinal): Medicinal plants possess chemical compounds that can be used for therapeutic purposes to treat illnesses or maintain health. - [Pollinator Magnet](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator-magnet): Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms. - [Timber](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/timber): Timber refers to wood that has been prepared for use in building and carpentry. - [Wetland](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/wetland): This habitat trait identifies species found in wetlands, which are areas of land saturated with water, either permanently or seasonally, including marshes, swamps, and bogs. - [Keystone Species](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/keystone-species): Describes a species whose presence and role have a disproportionately large effect on its environment. ## Collections - [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Stay on paths when exploring near trees and watch for falling branches. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify redbay? Start with the whole plant, then compare leaf arrangement, leaf edges, stems and any flowers or fruit. Opposite leaves grow in pairs; alternate leaves come one at a time along the stem. These details tell you far more together than a single green leaf does. Plant Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How tall is redbay? 300-2000 cm ### How wide does redbay spread? 150-1000 cm ### How big are the flowers on redbay? 0.3-0.5 cm ### When does redbay bloom? Spring ### Is redbay edible? Yes ### Is redbay toxic? None ### What is redbay's lifecycle? Perennial ## Where to spot - [Goose Island State Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/goose-island-state-park) — Texas, US · State Park - [Palma Sola Botanical Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/palma-sola-botanical-park) — Florida, US · Botanical Garden ## More Plants - [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*) - [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*) - [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*) - [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*) --- Source: [Redbay: Characteristics, Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/redbay)