Gordonia lasianthus, or Loblolly Bay, is an evergreen tree that is native to the Southeastern United States and is commonly found in the coastal plains and southern Tidewater region of North Carolina in moist but not wet areas. These areas include pocosins, bayheads, acidic, organic-rich swamp forests, wet pine savannas, and bay forests. In summer it has spectacular white Camellia-like flowers that are fragrant and can continue through frost. Loblolly Bay, often called Red Bay, reaches a height of 35 to 70 feet with a trunk diameter of 20 inches and a columnar or pyramidal, very open growth habit with a narrow, compact crown of spreading branches. The eventual size of the tree is dependent on soil moisture. Although evergreen, several individual leaves at a time will turn a brilliant scarlet color in the fall.
