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Tamala borbonia (L.) Raf
Red Bay
Synonym(s): Persea borbonia var. borbonia (L.)Spreng.
Florida native
A frequent shrub to small tree od wet to dry hammocks in most of Florida. Also ranges through the southeastern coastal states from North Carolina into Texas, plus Arkansas.
Growing up to 20m (66 ft.) in height this evergreen has alternate leaves that are distinctively aromatic when crushed. The leaves are simplle with entire margins and lanceolate, 2-15cm (3/4 to 6 in.) long and 1.5-6cm (6/10 to 2-1/3 in.) wide. The undersides of the leaves are grayish-white from a minute pubescence that requires magnification to detect. The small flowers are greenish and appear in small clusters from the leaf axils. The fruit is a dark blue round drupe about 1.2cm (~ 1/2 in.) in diameter.
The redbay ambrosia beetle(Xyleborus glabratus) was first detected in this county in 2002. This tiny beetle transmits the laurel wilt fungus(Raffaelea lauricola), which has been devastating to the red bay trees along the southeast United States coastal areas including into Florida.
Tamala borbonia is a member of the Lauraceae - Laurel family.
Other species of the Tamala genus in the Wild Florida Photo database:
Tamala humilis - SILK BAY
Tamala palustris - SWAMP BAY
Atlas of Florida Vascular Plants (Institute for Systemic Botany) profile for this species
iNaturalist profile for this species
USDA Plant Profile for this species
Date record last modified: Dec 12, 2025
