Botanical Name:   Persea borbonia

Common Names:   Red Bay, Florida Mahogany

Plant type:   Tree

Host for:   Host plant for Palamedes (also known as Laurel) and Spicebush Swallowtail Butterflies

Zone:   8 - 11

Light:   Full sun

Size:   Up to 40 feet, may be trimmed to a smaller size

Water:   Prefers moist soil but will grow in almost any soil

Soil:   Grows best in rich soil

Propagation:   seed

Bloom:   

Note:   For free seed of Red or Swamp Bay, send a padded self-addressed stamped envelope to Red Bay Seed, 12876 SW CR 231, Brooker, FL 32622.

Butterfly Bloom Attractant:   1




Butterfly Attractant Scale:    0 - 10
10 = Excellent nectar source
8-9 = Great nectar source
6-7 = Good nectar source
5 = Fair nectar source
3-4 = Poor nectar source
1-2 = Rarely visited by butterflies
0 = We have never observed a butterfly nectaring from this flowering plant.

These ratings are offered by Shady Oak Butterfly Farm from observations in Brooker, Florida, as well as on our travels. Different species of butterflies may be attracted to different plants in different areas of the US and of the world.