General Plant Information (Edit)
Plant Habit: Shrub
Tree
Life cycle: Perennial
Sun Requirements: Full Sun
Full Sun to Partial Shade
Water Preferences: Mesic
Dry Mesic
Dry
Soil pH Preferences: Strongly acid (5.1 – 5.5)
Moderately acid (5.6 – 6.0)
Slightly acid (6.1 – 6.5)
Neutral (6.6 – 7.3)
Slightly alkaline (7.4 – 7.8)
Moderately alkaline (7.9 – 8.4)
Strongly alkaline (8.5 – 9.0)
Minimum cold hardiness: Zone 8a -12.2 °C (10 °F) to -9.4 °C (15 °F)
Maximum recommended zone: Zone 11
Plant Height: 10-40 feet
Plant Spread: 10-30 feet
Leaves: Evergreen
Fragrant
Fruit: Edible to birds
Fruiting Time: Fall
Flowers: Showy
Flower Color: Green
Yellow
Bloom Size: Under 1"
Flower Time: Spring
Late spring or early summer
Underground structures: Taproot
Suitable Locations: Street Tree
Houseplant
Topiary
Uses: Windbreak or Hedge
Provides winter interest
Shade Tree
Culinary Herb
Medicinal Herb
Edible Parts: Leaves
Fruit
Eating Methods: Culinary Herb/Spice
Wildlife Attractant: Bees
Birds
Resistances: Fire Resistant
Propagation: Seeds: Provide light
Stratify seeds: 8 weeks at 39 degrees F
Needs specific temperature: 70 degrees F
Days to germinate: 10 days to 6 months
Start indoors
Can handle transplanting
Other info: Very difficult
Propagation: Other methods: Cuttings: Tip
Cuttings: Root
Offsets
Pollinators: Bees
Containers: Suitable in 3 gallon or larger
Needs repotting every 2 to 3 years
Needs excellent drainage in pots
Miscellaneous: Dioecious
Awards and Recognitions: RHS AGM

Image
Common names
  • Bay Laurel
  • True Laurel
  • Sweet Bay
  • Bay Leaf
  • Bayleaf
  • Bay Tree

Photo Gallery
Photo by _Bleu_
Location: Monte Latito, Guimarães, Portugal
Date: 2023-06-06
Location: Sydney Australia
Date: 2019-09-23
Location: A Green-headed Tanager in Parque Nacional do Itatiaia, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Date: 2010-06-15
Photo courtesy of: Dario Sanches
Location: San Antonio Botanical Garden, San Antonio, Texas
Date: 2022-04-04
Location: Arbor Gate Nursery, Tomball, TX
Date: 2013-10-05
  • Uploaded by jon
Location: London, England!
Date: 2014-09-29
Wonderful in a stew!
Location: my garden, Gent, Belgium
Date: 2011-04-09
Location: Cyprus
Date: 2019-11-13
Location: Tossa de Mar, Spain | April, 2023 
Date: 2023-04-04
Location: Bronx Botanical garden, NY
Date: 2015-09
knot garden by the conservatory
Location: Matthaei Botanical Gardens, Ann Arbor, MI
Date: 2011-03-19

photo credit: H. Zell
Photo by rakami
Location: Barcelona, Spain | April, 2023 
Date: 2023-04-04
Location: Botanical Garden Meise (near Brussels - Belgium)
Location: Cyprus
Date: 2019-11-13

Date: 2011-07-05
USDA
Location: Test garden

Photo Courtesy of Lazy S'S Farm Nursery.
  • Uploaded by Joy

photo credit: Benjamint444
Location: my garden
Location: Bronx Botanical garden, NY
Date: 2015-09
knot garden by the conservatory
Location: Austria / Wiener Neustadt
Date: 2015-09-16

Photo by Didier Descouens
Location: Matthaei Botanical Gardens, Ann Arbor, MI
Date: 2011-03-19
Location: Matthaei Botanical Gardens, Ann Arbor, MI
Date: 2011-03-19
Location: Matthaei Botanical Gardens, Ann Arbor, MI
Date: 2011-03-19
Comments:
Plant Events from our members
piksihk On September 1, 2023 Cuttings stuck
piksihk On May 2, 2016 Transplanted
HW -
paleohunter On December 17, 2022 Cuttings took
» Post your own event for this plant

« Add a new plant to the database

« The Plants Database Front Page

Today's site banner is by SongofJoy and is called "Blue Pansies"

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.