The Swamp Bay is a large shrub or a small tree with a dense, rounded canopy and a crooked or leaning trunk. It has dark, reddish-brown bark and dark blue fruits. It is grown for its beautiful, aromatic, evergreen foliage. The leaves are dark green, leathery and shiny. The wood is dark reddish-brown and is used for interior work and for fine cabinetwork and for lumber. The leaves are used to flavor soups. It is native to the southeastern United States. Hardy in zones 7b-11.
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Growing Instructions for the Swamp Bay
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The seeds have a period of dormancy. They can be planted outdoors in the fall or winter for spring germination or they can be cold stratified to simulate winter conditions and to break their dormancy at any time of the year. 1. Place the seeds in a plastic bag and seal it. Store the bag in a refrigerator for 3 months. 2. The seeds like moist, well-drained soil. Fill a pot with a mixture of half potting soil and half sand or vermiculite. 3. Sow the seeds ½ inch deep in the soil. 4. Water the container. 5. Put the pot in a warm, sunny area. 6. Water the pot regularly so that the soil is moist but not wet. 7. The seedlings can be transplanted when they are a few inches tall.