Life Span
Perennial
  
Perennial
  
Type
Palm or Cycad
  
Tree
  
Origin
Madagascar
  
Northeastern United States, Mid-Atlantic United States, Southeastern United States, South-Central United States
  
Types
Not Available
  
Cherry laurel, California Bay Laurel, Spotted laurel
  
Number of Varieties
Not Available
  
Habitat
Subtropical climates, tropical environments
  
Tropical regions
  
USDA Hardiness Zone
10-15
  
5-9
  
AHS Heat Zone
12-9
  
9-6
  
Sunset Zone
H1, H2, 22, 23, 24
  
4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
  
Habit
Oval or Rounded
  
Oval or Rounded
  
Plant Size
  
  
Plant Color
  
  
Flower Color
Light Yellow
  
White, Ivory
  
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
  
Bicolor
  
Fruit Color
Brown, Chocolate
  
Orange Red
  
Leaf Color in Spring
Blue Green, Silver, Gray
  
Green, Light Green, Blue Green, Silver
  
Leaf Color in Summer
Silver, Gray
  
Green, Light Green, Blue Green, Silver
  
Leaf Color in Fall
Silver, Gray
  
Green, Yellow green, Tan, Silver
  
Leaf Color in Winter
Silver, Gray
  
Green, Yellow green, Tan
  
Shape
  
  
Leaf Shape
Costapalmate
  
Oval
  
Thorns
No
  
No
  
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
  
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
  
Growing Conditions
  
  
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun
  
Full Sun, Partial Sun
  
Growth Rate
Medium
  
Medium
  
Type of Soil
Loam, Sand
  
Clay, Loam, Sand
  
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
  
Acidic, Neutral
  
Soil Drainage
Well drained
  
Average
  
Bloom Time
Indeterminate
  
Late Spring, Early Summer, Summer
  
Repeat Bloomer
No
  
No
  
Tolerances
Drought, Salt
  
Wet Site
  
Where to Plant?
Container, Ground, Pot
  
Ground
  
How to Plant?
Seedlings
  
Grafting, Stem Planting
  
Plant Maintenance
Medium
  
Medium
  
Watering Plants
  
  
Watering Requirements
Average Water Needs
  
Do Not over Water, occasional watering once established
  
In Summer
Lots of watering
  
Lots of watering
  
In Spring
Moderate
  
Moderate
  
In Winter
Average Water
  
Average Water
  
Soil
  
  
Soil pH
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
  
Acidic, Neutral
  
Soil Type
Loam, Sand
  
Clay, Loam, Sand
  
Soil Drainage Capacity
Well drained
  
Average
  
Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun
  
Full Sun, Partial Sun
  
Pruning
Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
  
Prune for shortening long shoots, Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
  
Fertilizers
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer
  
fertilize in growing season
  
Pests and Diseases
Larva, Palmetto weevil
  
Beetles, Fusarium wilt, Rust, Scab
  
Plant Tolerance
Drought
  
Drought, Salt and Soil Compaction, Shade areas
  
Flowers
Showy
  
Showy
  
Flower Petal Number
Single
  
Single
  
Fruits
  
  
Showy Fruit
Yes
  
No
  
Edible Fruit
Yes
  
No
  
Fragrance
  
  
Fragrant Flower
No
  
Yes
  
Fragrant Fruit
No
  
No
  
Fragrant Leaf
No
  
No
  
Fragrant Bark/Stem
No
  
No
  
Showy Foliage
Yes
  
Yes
  
Showy Bark
No
  
No
  
Foliage Texture
Bold
  
Coarse
  
Foliage Sheen
Matte
  
Glossy
  
Evergreen
No
  
No
  
Invasive
No
  
No
  
Self-Sowing
Yes
  
No
  
Attracts
Hummingbirds
  
Birds, Butterflies
  
Allergy
Oral Cancers
  
allergic conjunctivitis, Nausea, wheezing
  
Uses
  
  
Aesthetic Uses
Showy Purposes
  
Cottage Garden, Showy Purposes
  
Beauty Benefits
Not Available
  
For treating wrinkles, Hair Conditioner, Making cosmetics
  
Edible Uses
Yes
  
Sometimes
  
Environmental Uses
Air purification
  
Air purification, Indoor Air Purification, Insect Repellent
  
Plant Benefits
  
  
Medicinal Uses
Antidepressant
  
Acne, Cancer, Diarrhea, Emollient, Migraines, Oral health, treating poison ivy
  
Part of Plant Used
Nut
  
Flowers, Leaf Stalks, Stem
  
Other Uses
Chewing
  
Cosmetics, Culinary use, Florist trade and landscaping, Making Perfumes, Oil is used in perfume, soaps, creams, etc., Used as Ornamental plant
  
Used As Indoor Plant
Sometimes
  
Yes
  
Used As Outdoor Plant
Yes
  
Yes
  
Garden Design
Feature Plant, Foundation, Tropical
  
Feature Plant, Foundation, Shade Trees
  
Botanical Name
BISMARCKIA nobilis
  
Laurus nobilis
  
Common Name
Bismarck Palm
  
Sweetbay
  
In Hindi
Bismarck Palm
  
Laurus nobilis
  
In German
Bismarck Palm
  
Echter Lorbeer
  
In French
Bismarck Palm
  
Laurus nobilis
  
In Spanish
Bismarck Palm
  
Laurus nobilis
  
In Greek
Bismarck Palm
  
Laurus nobilis
  
In Portuguese
Bismarck Palm
  
Loureiro
  
In Polish
Bismarck Palm
  
Wawrzyn szlachetny
  
In Latin
Bismarck Palm
  
Laurus nobilis
  
Kingdom
Plantae
  
Plantae
  
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
  
Magnoliophyta
  
Class
Monocotyledonae
  
Magnoliopsida
  
Order
Arecales
  
Laurales
  
Family
Arecaceae
  
Magnoliaceae
  
Genus
Bismarckia
  
Laurus
  
Clade
Angiosperms, Commelinids, Monocots
  
Angiosperms, Monocots
  
Tribe
Borasseae
  
Epidendreae
  
Subfamily
Coryphoideae
  
Epidendroideae
  
Number of Species
Not Available