Identifying Characteristics Of Redbay (Persea borbonia)
University Outreach Publication
Redbay (Persea borbonia) is a unique tree of the lower coastal plain of the southern and southeastern United States. (Figure 1) Redbay has many highly variable characteristics which have caused some historical and modern misidentification.
This publication is to assist people in visualizing the physical attributes, as well as the historic medicinal uses and wildlife values, of redbay.
The natural form of redbay is noticeably different than many other trees. The crown is oval to round shaped with densely packed single layers of foliage held on slender but stiff twigs. Redbay holds branches low to the ground and does not self-prune lower limbs well. In the understory of a forest it tends to form a crooked, muti-stem shrub. With small gaps in the canopy from overstory tree failures, redbay can slowly attain single stem tree form.
SFNR06-4
Kim D. Coder
June 2006
Warnell School of Forestry & Natural Resources, University of Georgia
Athens, GA
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SFNR06-4
Diagnosis and Treatment, Disease, Forest Health, Health (tree), Identification, Insects, Integrated Pest Management (IPM), Landscape Ecology, Plant Health Care, Silvics, Silviculture, Species Selection, Stress & Stressors, Wetlands
Georgia, Florida, South Carolina, Piedmont, Southeast, International
Red bay, Persea borbonia, Silkbay, Persea, Leaf characteristics, Redbay
