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    • Photo of Laurus nobilis form by Giancarlo Dessi

    Photo by Giancarlo Dessi

    This file is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 license.

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    Laurus nobilis

    Also Known As

    • Sweet Bay Laurel

    Plant type

    tree, shrub, herb

    size

    • H: 6'-40'
    • W: 15'-20'

    planting zones

    • 8a-11

    More Options

    Laurus nobilis plant details

    Laurus nobilis is a slow-growing broadleaf evergreen herb, shrub or tree with green foliage. In spring yellow flowers emerge followed by black fruit. Features glossy texture. Grows well with sun - mostly shade and regular water. Drought tolerant once established. Prefers to be dry in summer. Does well in rich and well-drained soil. A good option if you're seeking something seaside / salt tolerant.

    CHARACTERISTICS OF Laurus nobilis

    Plant type: herb, shrub or tree
    Plant family: lauraceae
    Foliage: evergreen green
    Mature size: 15 FT - 20 FT - wide, 6 FT - 40 FT - tall
    Flowers: yellow blooms in spring
    Uses: container plant, culinary, fragrant, fragrant foliage, hedge, patio, topiary, year round interest

    GROWING CONDITIONS for Laurus nobilis

    USDA Zones: 8a - 11
    Sun exposure: sun - mostly shade
    Watering frequency: regular
    Resistant to: deer, seaside / salt
    Soil needs: rich and well-drained

    Nursery contributed plant descriptions

    The bay tree or bay laurel (Laurus nobilis) is that large, dried leaf you have in your spice drawer that you put in tomato sauces and soups to add a fragrant herbal sweetness to your dish. The plant itself is a beautiful evergreen shrub or tree with deep green, leathery leaves that are gorgeously aromatic when crushed. Solidly hardy in coastal BC, it can be grown elsewhere in Canada protected as a houseplant in a bright, cool room. Fresh bay leaves are way better than dried. Allow it to grow as a shrub or prune it into any shape you want and keep it to any size you like depending on your situation.

    By: Phoenix Perennials and Specialty Plants Ltd.

    This is the true 'Laurel' of the ancients, who used its leaves to make crowns for their triumphant heroes. Fragrant yellow flowers in spring are followed by glossy black berries on female plants (if a male is present). A wonderful edible grown for its leathery, glossy-green, aromatic foliage (the bay leaf) and a beautiful upright evergreen shrub/tree reaching 10-30' in the landscape (it can reach 60'!). It is easily pruned for topiary or to keep its size in check; can be overwintered indoors in a large pot. Ours are unsexed seedlings. S/M

    By: Forestfarm

    Zn 8. Dark green highly aromatic foliage.Evergreen

    By: Little Prince of Oregon

    Fresh bay leaves are a gourmet's delight particularly in soups and stews. Bay leaves also make lovely holiday wreaths. This stunning shrub makes an excellent houseplant and may be easily trained into a standard.

    By: Logee's Plants for Home & Garden

    Upright tender herb, makes a wonderful topiary. This is the bay leaf used in cooking. Needs winter protection is cold areas.

    By: Accents for Home and Garden

    Tree or large shrub with aromatic, narrowly ovate leaves bearing clusters of greenish-yellow flowers in spring. Leaves are often used as flavoring in cooking. An excellent specimen for topiary.

    By: Almost Eden

    True Bay Tree is a dense small, evergreen tree (10-12'), the leaves of which one buys dry in bottles in the grocery store. It is a wonderful garden specimen, but unfortunately not very hardy. I have never had one die here in Oregon (zone 7), but it is probably a zone 8 tree.

    By: Whitman Farms

    Sweet Bay will become a large shrub or small tree in mild climates where it is winter hardy, but it is easy to maintain and quite attractive as a container and topiary subject for northern gardeners. On top of its good looks, Laurus nobilis provides you with fresh aromatic leaves for flavoring soups and stews. We've kept our stock plant in a large pot for at least a dozen years. Grow in a sunny spot in your home or green house. It can put up with low light for a while too. One year our specimen graced the family room decked with red chili lights for Christmas. 10-12" plants for spring shipping.

    By: Avant Gardens

    This is the famous laurel of ancient history, cultivated for centuries by the Greeks and Romans. It is grown for its aromatic foliage and its usefulness as a dense shrub or tree. An excellent choice if you need a dense hedge, and it's the plant that produces the aromatic bay leaf used in cooking.

    By: Greer Gardens Inc.

    Intensely fragrant leaves used in traditional Mediterranean cooking (bay leaves!). Handsome evergreen shrub to small tree -- 6 to 10 ft is typical in the garden depending how many leaves you use. Leaves are shiny, leathery and dark green; spring flowers are yellow and small in small clusters followed by small black berries. Full sun to part shade. Drought tolerant but enjoys summer water. Does well in containers. Frost hardy in USDA zone 8.

    By: Cistus Nursery

    Culinary delight with pleasing fresh aroma. Plant in a sheltered warm spot or grow as a patio pal.

    By: Dancing Oaks Nursery

    Gardening facts about Laurus nobilis plant

    How to Grow Laurus nobilis

    • Sun Exposure

      • sun - mostly shade

    • Water Needs

      • regular - drought tolerant

    • Water Needs

      • dry in summer

    • Soil Needs

      • well-drained
      • rich

    • Special Situation

      • seaside / salt tolerant

    Features

    • Foliage Color

      • green

    • Flower Color

      • yellow

    • Wildlife

      • deer resistant

    • Fruit

      • black

    • Flower Season

      • spring

    • Foliage Season

      • evergreen

    • Texture

      • glossy

    See other plant types of Laurus for your garden

    Laurus 'Saratoga'

    aka Saratoga Bay Laurel

    Plant Type

    Tree, Shrub

    Zones

    8a-10b

    Size

    Height: 20'-25'

    Width: 10'-15'

    • sun
    • regular - drought tolerant
    • dry in summer
    Photo of Laurus 'Saratoga' flower by Forestfarm
    View Plant

    Laurus nobilis f. angustifolia

    aka Laurus nobilis [Narrow leaf form], Laurus noblis 'Angustifolia', Bay Laurel, Bay Tree, Narrow Leaf Bay, Narrow Leaf Sweet Bay Laurel, Sweet Bay, True Laurel, Willow Bay Laurel

    Plant Type

    Tree, Shrub, Herb

    Zones

    7a-11

    Size

    Height: 8'-20'

    Width: 6'-25'

    • sun - mostly shade
    • regular - drought tolerant
    • dry in summer
    Photo of Laurus nobilis f. angustifolia foliage by Evan Bean
    View Plant

    More Options

    Laurus nobilis 'Aurea'

    aka Laurus nobilis 'Aureus', Aureus Sweet Bay, Golden Bay

    Plant Type

    Tree, Shrub

    Zones

    8a-11

    Size

    Height: 10'-30'

    Width: 6'-15'

    • sun - mostly shade
    • occasional
    • dry in summer
    Photo of Laurus nobilis 'Aurea' by plant lust
    View Plant

    More Options

    Laurus nobilis 'Crispa'

    aka Crispa Sweet Bay, Pie Crust Bay, Wavy Bay

    Plant Type

    Shrub, Herb

    Zones

    7b-10b

    Size

    Height: 12'

    Width: 6'

    • sun
    • dry in summer
    Photo of Laurus nobilis 'Crispa' foliage by Cistus Nursery
    View Plant

    Laurus nobilis 'Starbright'

    aka Starbright Sweet Bay

    Plant Type

    Tree, Shrub, Herb

    Zones

    7a-11

    Size

    Height: 20'-25'

    Width: 12'-18'

    • sun - mostly sun
    • regular - drought tolerant
    • dry in summer
    Photo of Laurus nobilis 'Starbright' foliage by Evan Bean
    View Plant

    More Options

    +2 more Laurus
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