Tamala spp.

Redbay

Lauraceae South-eastern United States

Attracts Pollinators Attracts Butterflies Fragrant (moderate)

Native to North America

SunFull Sun – Part Shade

WaterHigh

HardinessZones 8–10

Overview

Tamala spp. is a name applied within the laurel family (Lauraceae) to the aromatic evergreen trees and shrubs of south-eastern North America also treated under Persea spp., including redbay and swamp bay. Plants are evergreen, 15 to 65 feet (4.5-20 m) tall, with a slender trunk and a dense, dark green crown. The leathery, lance-shaped leaves are aromatic when crushed and have been used like bay leaves for flavouring. Small greenish-yellow flowers in branched clusters give way to dark blue to black drupes on red stalks, which are eaten by birds. These plants grow in coastal forests, swamps, and sandy woodland on the south-eastern Atlantic and Gulf coastal plain, tolerating wet ground and salt spray. A major constraint is laurel wilt, a lethal fungal disease spread by an introduced ambrosia beetle that has killed many wild redbays. The group is frost-tender to only moderately hardy and is restricted to mild, humid regions.

Native Range

Tamala spp. in this sense is native to the south-eastern United States, from coastal Virginia south through Florida and west along the Gulf Coast to Texas, extending into the Bahamas.

Suggested Uses

Used in coastal and wetland plantings, native gardens, and as a small shade or screening tree in the warm south-eastern United States. The aromatic leaves are used in cooking, and the fruit supports birds and other wildlife.

How to Identify

Recognised by leathery, lance-shaped evergreen leaves that smell of bay when crushed, often with a slightly bluish underside. Small greenish-yellow flowers in branched clusters and dark blue-black drupes held on bright red stalks aid identification. Brown, blistered leaves and dark streaking in the sapwood signal laurel wilt infection.

Appearance

Size & Dimensions

Height15' - 65'

Width/Spread15' - 30'

Colors

Flower Colors

Foliage Colors

Fall Foliage Colors

Bloom Information

Bloom Period

~3 weeks

Spring

Flowering is in spring (April-June in the south-eastern United States), with small greenish-yellow flowers in the leaf axils. Drupes develop over summer and ripen dark blue to black by autumn, persisting on red stalks into the cooler months.

Detailed Descriptions

Foliage Description

dark green

Growing Conditions

Sun Requirements

SunFull Sun SunPartial Shade

Requires 4-10 hours of direct sunlight daily

• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight

• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight

• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight

Soil Requirements

pH Range4.5 - 6.5(Acidic)

357912

Soil Types

sand peat

Drainagewet

Water & Climate

Water Needs

High

Frost Tolerance

hardy

Time to Maturity

15-20 years

Care & Maintenance

Care Guide

These plants grow in full sun to part shade on moist to wet, acidic, sandy or peaty soils with a pH of about 4.5 to 6.5, and they tolerate flooding and coastal salt. Established trees withstand short dry spells but make stronger growth with steady moisture. Hardiness extends to roughly 15°F (-9°C), so cultivation is limited to mild coastal and southern regions. The overriding risk is laurel wilt, which can kill a mature tree within weeks of infection. Propagation is from fresh seed or cuttings, and seedlings establish quickly in moist ground.

Pruning

Little pruning is needed beyond removing dead, damaged, or diseased wood. Material from trees showing laurel wilt is cut out and kept off site, since the disease spreads through infected wood. Multi-stemmed shrubs can be thinned to a single trunk when young.

✓ Toxicity

Non-toxic