Do not plant this plant unless you are absolutely sure that it is not infected by laurel wilt disease.  In general, this small bay seems to be escaping its ravages. Nice specimen plant. Slow growing.

Specimen plant, screen plant, understory tree/shrub.

Shade tree. Screen along wetland edges. Street tree for use in parking lots and median strips. Many acres have been planted to attract bees for honey production.

The entire state excepting the keys falls within the range of this plant which extends from North Carolina to Texas.   Herbarium specimens document occurrence, at least sporatically, throughout the peninsula but not in the Florida keys.  Counties without documented specimens are ones with heavy urbanization, dominance by unsuitable habitats, intensive farming or silviculture, or generally a lack of public access for botanizing. Moist meadows

Difficult to transplant. Clonal. May be used as a hedge and takes to pruning.