Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Type
Herbs
Tree
Origin
Mexico, Central America, South America
Northeastern United States, Mid-Atlantic United States, Southeastern United States, South-Central United States
Types
Dysphania ambrosioides (L.) Mosyakin & Clemants
Cherry laurel, California Bay Laurel, Spotted laurel
Number of Varieties
13
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
shrublands, tropical grasslands
Tropical regions
USDA Hardiness Zone
-99995-9
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
12-1
9-6
Sunset Zone
H1, H2, 1a, 1b, 2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
Habit
Upright/Erect
Oval or Rounded
Plant Size
Minimum Height
45.70 cm460.00 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
50.80 cm300.00 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
Green
White, Ivory
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
Bicolor
Fruit Color
Green, Light Green, Tan
Orange Red
Leaf Color in Spring
Green, Light Green
Green, Light Green, Blue Green, Silver
Leaf Color in Summer
Green, Light Green
Green, Light Green, Blue Green, Silver
Leaf Color in Fall
Green, Light Green
Green, Yellow green, Tan, Silver
Leaf Color in Winter
Light Green
Green, Yellow green, Tan
Shape
Leaf Shape
Lanceolate
Oval
Thorns
✔
✘
✔
✘
Plant Season
Summer, Fall
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Growing Conditions
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Growth Rate
Very Fast
Medium
Type of Soil
Clay, Loam, Sand
Clay, Loam, Sand
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Acidic, Neutral
Soil Drainage
Well drained
Average
Bloom Time
Early Summer, Summer, Late Summer, Early Fall, Fall
Late Spring, Early Summer, Summer
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
Drought
Wet Site
Where to Plant?
Ground
Ground
How to Plant?
Seedlings
Grafting, Stem Planting
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Medium
Watering Plants
Watering Requirements
Requires a lot of watering, Requires regular watering
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
Clay, 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
Pest Free
Beetles, Fusarium wilt, Rust, Scab
Plant Tolerance
Drought
Drought, Salt and Soil Compaction, Shade areas
Flowers
Insignificant
Showy
Flower Petal Number
Single
Single
Fruits
Showy Fruit
✔
✘
✔
✘
Edible Fruit
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrance
Fragrant Flower
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrant Fruit
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrant Leaf
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrant Bark/Stem
✔
✘
✔
✘
Showy Foliage
✔
✘
✔
✘
Showy Bark
✔
✘
✔
✘
Foliage Texture
Medium
Coarse
Foliage Sheen
Matte
Glossy
Evergreen
✔
✘
✔
✘
Invasive
✔
✘
✔
✘
Self-Sowing
✔
✘
✔
✘
Attracts
Bees, Flies
Birds, Butterflies
Allergy
allergic reaction, Skin irritation
allergic conjunctivitis, Nausea, wheezing
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
-
Cottage Garden, Showy Purposes
Beauty Benefits
-
For treating wrinkles, Hair Conditioner, Making cosmetics
Edible Uses
✔
✘
✔
✘
Environmental Uses
Air purification
Air purification, Indoor Air Purification, Insect Repellent
Plant Benefits
Medicinal Uses
Detoxification, Insect Bites, Stomach pain, Treat Parasitic Intestinal Worms
Acne, Cancer, Diarrhea, Emollient, Migraines, Oral health, treating poison ivy
Part of Plant Used
Leaves, Seeds
Flowers, Leaf Stalks, Stem
Other Uses
Pesticide, The essential oil is used as insect repellent
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
✔
✘
✔
✘
Used As Outdoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Garden Design
Container, Herb / Vegetable
Feature Plant, Foundation, Shade Trees
Botanical Name
CHENOPODIUM ambrosioides
Laurus nobilis
Common Name
Mexican Tea
Sweetbay
In Hindi
Dysphania ambrosioides
Laurus nobilis
In German
Mexikanischer Drüsengänsefuß
Echter Lorbeer
In French
Épazote
Laurus nobilis
In Spanish
Dysphania ambrosioides
Laurus nobilis
In Greek
Μεξικού τσάι
Laurus nobilis
In Portuguese
Dysphania ambrosioides
Loureiro
In Polish
Komosa piżmowa
Wawrzyn szlachetny
In Latin
Dysphania ambrosioides
Laurus nobilis
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Tracheophyta
Magnoliophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Caryophyllales
Laurales
Family
Chenopodiaceae
Magnoliaceae
Genus
Dysphania
Laurus
Clade
Angiosperms, Core eudicots, Eudicots
Angiosperms, Monocots
Tribe
Dysphanieae
Epidendreae
Subfamily
Chenopodioideae
Epidendroideae
Number of Species
303
1
27800
👆🏻