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Wasowski, Sally and Andy

Persea palustris

Persea palustris (Raf.) Sarg.

Swamp Bay, Swampbay

Lauraceae (Laurel Family)

Synonym(s): Persea borbonia var. pubescens, Persea pubescens, Tamala pubescens

USDA Symbol: PEPA37

USDA Native Status: L48 (N)

Swampbay (P. palustris (Raf.) Sarg.) is characterized by twigs and lower leaf surfaces covered with rust-colored hairs. It is found in coastal swamps and ranges from Delaware west to southeast Texas and south to the Bahamas.

From the Image Gallery

1 photo(s) available in the Image Gallery

Plant Characteristics

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Shrub , Tree
Leaf Complexity: Simple
Fruit Type: Drupe
Size Notes: Up to about 65 feet tall, often much shorter.

Bloom Information

Bloom Color: White , Yellow
Bloom Time: Mar , Apr , May , Jun

Distribution

USA: AL , DE , FL , GA , LA , MD , MS , NC , SC , TX , VA
Native Distribution: Southeastern North America and the Bahamas. From Delaware south to Florida and the Bahamas, west to southeast Texas
Native Habitat: Moist woodlands, savannas, and swamps

National Wetland Indicator Status

Region:	AGCP	AK	AW	CB	EMP	GP	HI	MW	NCNE	WMVE
Status:	FACW				FACW

This information is derived from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers National Wetland Plant List, Version 3.1 (Lichvar, R.W. 2013. The National Wetland Plant List: 2013 wetland ratings. Phytoneuron 2013-49: 1-241). Click here for map of regions.

From the National Organizations Directory

According to the species list provided by Affiliate Organizations, this plant is on display at the following locations:

Crosby Arboretum - Picayune, MS
Mt. Cuba Center - Hockessin, DE

Bibliography

Bibref 1620 - Gardening with Native Plants of the South (Reprint Edition) (2009) Wasowski, S. with A. Wasowski

Search More Titles in Bibliography

Web Reference

Webref 57 - Atlas of Florida Plants (2020) Institute for Systematic Botany
Webref 38 - Flora of North America (2019) Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis, MO & Harvard University Herbaria, Cambridge, MA.
Webref 23 - Southwest Environmental Information Network (2009) SEINet - Arizona Chapter

Additional resources

USDA: Find Persea palustris in USDA Plants
FNA: Find Persea palustris in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Persea palustris

Metadata

Record Modified: 2023-01-11
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