# Swamp Bay (*Persea palustris*) The Swamp Bay is a special tree that loves wet places! It has shiny green leaves and can grow tall, providing shade for animals and people alike. - **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Habitat:** Wetlands ![Swamp Bay](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Persea_palustris_243511033.jpg&width=800) Photo: Steven Joyner, CC BY 4.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Persea_palustris_243511033.jpg) ## Appearance The Swamp Bay is an evergreen tree with a sometimes irregular, open canopy. It has shiny, dark green leaves that are often thicker than other bay trees. Its small, greenish-yellow flowers develop into striking dark blue berries. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Magnoliopsida - **Order:** Laurales - **Family:** Lauraceae - **Genus:** Persea ## Interesting facts - Birds love its dark blue berries; they are a vital food source. - It's related to the plant that gives us delicious avocados! - Its leaves release a spicy scent when crushed! - The wood of the Swamp Bay is strong and resistant to decay. ## Special abilities - **Water-Loving Roots:** Swamp Bay has roots that can handle standing water, helping it thrive where most trees would drown. - **Berry Feast:** Swamp Bay produces nutrient-rich dark blue berries, providing essential food for many swamp birds. - **Fire Rescuer:** Swamp Bay has thick bark that helps protect it from common swamp fires, allowing it to survive and regrow. ## Measurements & details - **Height:** 1000-2000 cm - **Spread:** 500-1000 cm - **Flower Size:** 0.3-0.7 cm - **Bloom Season:** Spring (April-May) - **Edible:** No - **Toxicity:** None - **Lifecycle:** Perennial - **Pollination Method:** Insect ## Ecological connections - **Eats:** [American Robin](https://www.snappit.app/explore/american-robin) (*Turdus migratorius*) — Feeds on its nutrient-rich dark blue berries. - **Depends on:** [Spicebush Swallowtail](https://www.snappit.app/explore/spicebush-swallowtail) (*Papilio troilus*) — Its caterpillars use the leaves as a food source. - **Pollinates:** European Honey Bee (*Apis mellifera*) — Visits its small flowers to collect nectar and pollen. - **Shelter:** [Pileated Woodpecker](https://www.snappit.app/explore/pileated-woodpecker) (*Dryocopus pileatus*) — Nests in cavities of older, larger Swamp Bay trees. ## Traits - [Shade Tolerant](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/shade-tolerant): Shade tolerant plants are adapted to grow and thrive in areas with low light levels, requiring less direct sunlight. - [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. - [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. - [Longevous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/longevous): This trait characterizes organisms with an exceptionally long lifespan compared to others of their kind. - [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 wetlands and watch out for muddy areas. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Swamp Bay? 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 Swamp Bay? 1000-2000 cm ### How wide does Swamp Bay spread? 500-1000 cm ### How big are the flowers on Swamp Bay? 0.3-0.7 cm ### When does Swamp Bay bloom? Spring (April-May) ### Is Swamp Bay edible? No ### Is Swamp Bay toxic? None ### What is Swamp Bay's lifecycle? Perennial ## Where to spot - [Singletary Lake State Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/singletary-lake-state-park) — North Carolina, US · State Park ## 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: [Swamp Bay: Characteristics, Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/swamp-bay)