Lauraceae
Tisswood
Persea borbonia
Also known as Persea carolinensis f. glabriuscula, Persea carolinensis var. glabriuscula, Tamala littoralis, ironwood
Flowering Plants · Native Plants · Trees & Shrubs · Tisswood · Red Bay · Evergreen Tree · Southeastern Native · Lauraceae · Swamp Tree · Coastal Plain · Shade Tree · Wildlife Tree · Laurel Wilt
Tisswood (Red Bay) is an evergreen tree native to moist forests and swampy lowlands of the southeastern United States, requiring consistently moist, fertile soil and a warm climate. It performs best in partial shade to full sun and is unfortunately susceptible to laurel wilt disease, a serious fungal pathogen spread by an invasive beetle. Plant in disease-free areas and source stock from reputable nurseries; little regular pruning is needed beyond shaping young trees.
Growing conditions
The details behind the basics
- Daily light
- 4 hours
- Watering
- Water deeply to keep soil consistently moist but well-drained; do not allow to dry out completely between waterings · Every 7-10 days
- Maintenance
- Moderate
- Soil
- loam
- Soil pH
- 5–6.7
- Temperature
- -25°F to 95°F
- Cycle
- Perennial
- Propagation
- Seed, Division, Cutting
Hardiness
USDA 4b-9b
Form & growth
Mature size and habit
- Mature height
- 12 in – 4 ft
- Spread
- 4 ft
- Spacing
- 180 in apart
- Growth rate
- Moderate
- Root depth
- Medium
- Flowers
- Yellow
- Foliage
- Green · Medium
Ecology & origin
Where it belongs and what it brings
- Native to
- Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Texas
- Attracts
- Bees, Birds
Sources: trefle
More Persea
Related plants from the same genus
Buy this plant
No nurseries currently list it
No nursery lists Tisswood right now.