Swamp Bay is a medium-sized evergreen tree in the laurel family native to the southeastern U.S.A. and commonly found in the coastal plain areas of NC. Habitat: Swamps, pocosins, bay forests, maritime forests, generally in wet peaty soils, but also in fairly dry, sandy soils in maritime forests Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: This tree is in grave danger from a fungus ( Ophiostoma sp.) carried by the Redbay Ambrosia beetle introduced from Asia. Many of the trees in the southeastern part of North Carolina have died. This plant is also susceptible to laurel wilt.
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
Similar, less problematicChamaecyparis thyoides 'Heatherbun'Chamaecyparis thyoides 'Red Star'Chamaecyparis thyoides 'Shiva'Taxodium distichum var. imbricarium
Full plant profile
Growing Conditions
Plant type
Native Plant; Tree
Life cycle
Woody
USDA zones
7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b, 11a, 11b
Light
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day) | Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Soil texture
Loam (Silt); Sand
Soil drainage
Occasionally Dry | Occasionally Wet
NC region
Coastal
Canopy layer
2 - Understory
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Erect
Foliage
Broadleaf Evergreen
Leaf color
Green
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf arrangement
Alternate
Leaf margin
Entire
Leaf feel
Glossy
Leaf size
3-6 inches long
Hairs present
Yes
Leaf detail
2-8 inch long and 1-2 inch wide green leaves are lanceolate with entire margins. Upper surface is dark green and shiny, undersides is a silvery-white color with an orange tinge from pubescence that occurs primarily along the midvein.
Flower color
Gold/Yellow
Flower form
Insignificant
Flower detail
Small, light yellow-green flowers occurring in small clusters in leaf axils from May to June.
Bloom time
Spring
Fruit color
Blue
Fruit type
Drupe
Fruit detail
Dark blue fruit on hairy reddish stalks from September to October.
Bark color
Dark Brown; Dark Gray; Red/Burgundy
Bark detail
The bark ranges from red to grayish-brown with irregular furrows with flat-topped ridges, quite thick.
Stem detail
Densely rusty pubescent twigs
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Native
Origin
Southeastern U.S.A. to TX, Bahamas
Wildlife value
This plant is a larval host for Spicebush Swallowtail and Palamedes Swallowtail. The fruit is eaten by birds and small mammals.
Attracts
Butterflies; Songbirds
Host plant for
Spicebush Swallowtail and Palamedes Swallowtail
Food & Medicine
Harvest time
Fall
Fruit type
Drupe
Uses (ethnobotany)
Native Americans used the plant medicinally.
Landscape Use
Landscape location
Coastal
Landscape theme
Butterfly Garden; Native Garden
Garden tags
#native tree #NC native #evergreen tree #evergreen #Piedmont Mountains FACW #food source herbage #larval host plant #Coastal FACW #food source soft mast fruit #food source fall #bird friendly #Audubon #frequent disease problems #high maintenance #endangered