We've recently purchased five undeveloped acres between Rockport and Aransas Pass, TX (we call it our Beach House on the Moon) and the plants growing wild on it are amazing.

One smells and looks like bay; I believe it's related but it smells just a bit different than the typical bay used for cooking.

Anyone know what it could be and whether it's edible? I'm planning a visit to the County Extension office in Rockport soon but until I can, the curiosity is killing me.

Persea borbonia, also known as Red Bay, is what we see growing here on the coastal bend. It generally is growing as an understory tree. Lots of them are growing on the Blackjack Peninsula.

P. borbonia var. pubescens, is known as Swamp Bay, and it also grows here on the coastal bend.

Both red bay P. borbonia and swamp bay P. borbonia var. pubescens grow throughout the southern United States and the plants’ spicy leaves are successfully substituted for Laurus nobilis, which is what we consider to be the "true bay". So feel free to go out and pick some leaves to throw into a pot of beans, potatoes, stews, fish, etc. Just be sure to remove them before eating.

Be careful that you know for sure what "bay" you plan on using. According to Susan Belsinger, picking bay in the wild is not recommended, as some plants commonly called bays or laurels are highly poisonous. Mountain laurel Kalmia latifolia, cherry laurel Prunus laurocerasus, bayberry Myrica pennsylvanica, loblolly bay Gordonia lasianthus, and West Indian bay Pimenta racemosa, are highly toxic and should not be ingested.

The Aransas County Extension Office number is 361-790-0103.