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Plants

Persea borbonia

Red Bay

a perennial woody evergreen member of the Persea genus in the family Lauraceae.

No photo available

Taxonomy and growth

Family
Lauraceae
Genus
Persea
Life cycle
perennial
Foliage
evergreen
Woodiness
woody
Height
15 m
Flower type
hermaphrodite

Uses

Edible uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

The fresh or dried leaves can be used as a flavouring in soups etc[2].

Product or use
Condiment

Medicinal uses

Historical medicinal uses. These records describe reported uses. They do not establish safety or effectiveness. Ask a qualified health professional before using any plant medicinally.

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Red bay was widely employed medicinally by the Seminole Indians who used it to treat a variety of complaints, but especially as an emetic and body cleanser[4]. It is little, if at all, used in modern herbalism. The leaves are abortifacient, analgesic, antirheumatic, appetizer, emetic and febrifuge[4]. An infusion can be used to abort a foetus up to the age of four months[4]. An infusion is also used in treating fevers, headaches, diarrhoea, thirst, constipation, appetite loss and blocked urination[4]. A strong decoction is emetic and was used as a body purification when treating a wide range of complaints[4]. A decoction of the leaves is used externally as a wash on rheumatic joints and painful limbs[4].

Product or use
Abortifacient
Product or use
Analgesic
Product or use
Antirheumatic
Product or use
Appetizer
Product or use
Emetic
Product or use
Febrifuge

Material uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Wood - hard, heavy, close-grained, very strong, rather brittle[5][2][3]. It weighs 40lb per cubic foot[3]. The wood works well and is suitable for interior uses such as cabinets, but trees with large straight trunks are not sufficiently common to make the tree of commercial interest[2].

Product or use
Wood

Ecology and functions

Ecosystem niche
Secondary canopy

Environment

Range
South-eastern N. America - Virginia to Florida, west to Texas.
Habitat
Sandy to rich moist soils of low woodlands, coastal forests, along the sides of bogs, streams and swamps[2]. Sometimes found in dry sandy areas in Florida[2].
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
no shade
Water
moderate
Hardiness
Zone 9+
Soil textures
sandy, loamy
Soil pH
acid, neutral, alkaline
Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
No
Drought
intolerant

Propagation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Seed - we have no information for this species but suggest sowing the seed in a greenhouse in early spring. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots when they are large enough to handle and grow them on in the greenhouse for their first 2 winters. Plant them out into their permanent positions in early summer and give some protection from winter cold for their first winter or two outdoors.

Cultivation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

We have found no cultivation details for this species in Britain, though the tree is likely to require a well-drained light to medium soil in a sunny sheltered position[K]. It is only likely to be hardy in the mildest areas of the country[1].

References

  1. Bean. W. Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Vol 1 - 4 and Supplement. Murray 1981-00-00

    ↩

  2. Elias. T. The Complete Trees of N. America. Field Guide and Natural History. Van Nostrand Reinhold Co. 1980-00-00 ISBN 0442238622

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5

  3. Britton. N. L. Brown. A. An Illustrated Flora of the Northern United States and Canada Dover Publications. New York. 1970-00-00 ISBN 0-486-22642-5

    ↩1↩2

  4. Moerman. D. Native American Ethnobotany Timber Press. Oregon. 1998-00-00 ISBN 0-88192-453-9

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5↩6

  5. Sargent. C. S. Manual of the Trees of N. America. Dover Publications Inc. New York. 1965-00-00 ISBN 0-486-20278-X

    ↩

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