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Tamala palustris Raf.
Swamp Bay
Synonym(s): Persea palustris (Raf.)Sarg.
Florida native
A common shrub or small tree of wet hammocks and swamps throughout nearly all of Florida. The range extends from Texas through the southeastern coastal plain into Maryland.
Typically not more than 12m (~40 ft.) tall, swamp bay has alternate simple lanceolate to long elliptic leaves 5-20cm (2-8 in.) long with entire margins. Leaves have a dark green top surface and are paler underneath, with the underside having erect wavy trichomes, particularly evident along the veins. The small yellow-green flowers have nine stamens and one pistil. The fruit is an oblong drupe about 1cm (< 1/2 in.) long which is blue at maturity.
Tamala palustris is a member of the Lauraceae - Laurel family.
Other species of the Tamala genus in the Wild Florida Photo database:
Tamala borbonia - RED BAY
Tamala humilis - SILK 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
