Laurus nobilis

Common Names

Bay Laurel, Bay Tree, True Laurel, Grecian Laurel, Sweet Bay, Laurel, Laurel Tree, Bay Leaf, Bay

Summary

Bay laurel is an evergreen shrub or small tree native to the Mediterranean, with dense, glossy dark-green, lance-shaped leaves that release a scent when crushed. It bears small pale yellow-green flowers in spring and, if pollinated, purple-black berries. The foliage is prized as a culinary bay leaf, and the plant is valued ornamentally for topiary and hedges, providing a dense, fragrant presence.

For cultivation, it prefers full sun to partial shade and well-drained soil, with a pH range of 4.5–8. Hardy outdoors in USDA zones 8–10, it can be grown in containers or indoors in cooler regions. It is drought-tolerant once established. Regular pruning maintains size and shape. Propagation by cuttings is preferred, or layering or seed. Practical uses include flavoring in soups, stews, and sauces, and it serves as a landscape specimen for hedges, screens, patios, and container plantings.

Lifecycle

Perennial

Height

6-60 feet

Spread

5-30 feet

Hardiness Zones

Zones 8-10

Sunlight Requirements

Ideally full sun, tolerates partial sun and partial shade, may benefit from light shade in warmer climates, range from full sun to partial shade

Soil Type

Well-drained, fertile, moist soil

Soil Drainage

Moist, well-drained soil

Soil pH

Slightly acidic to neutral, ideally slightly acidic.

Bloom Color

Pale yellow-green

Bloom Time

Spring

Foliage Color

Green

Fall Foliage Color

No fall foliage color; evergreen with green foliage.

Leaf Lifecycle

Evergreen broadleaf

Growth Rate

Slow-growing, about 4–12 inches per year

Seasons of Interest

Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter

Propagation Methods

Seeds, Cuttings, Layering (including air layering), Root division

Attracts Wildlife

Attracts bees and birds