Laurus Species, Bay Laurel, Bay Leaf, Sweet Bay, True Laurel

On Oct 29, 2018, njacacia from Trenton, NJ wrote:

I live in central NJ, zone 7 I believe. I have had 2 bay laurels which I purchased as 10" plants that were shipped to NJ. I could find no nurseries in NJ that carry them. They have done great, and are about 4' high after only 2 years. From March through October-November I leave them on my back deck which has a southwesterly exposure. They are able to tolerate full sun all afternoon. Til now I have brought them indoors to overwinter, but wonder if they might do ok outside if planted against a fence for some protection. I have also intentionally tried to keep them small by limiting the size of their pots, currently 15". I would love them to grow as trees outside if I can trust them to survive our winters. I love having these fresh leaves for cooking.

On Sep 14, 2015, wendymadre from Petersburg, VA wrote:

In my Zone 7A garden in Petersburg, Virginia, I take my two bay trees in for the winter. I trained them into five-foot standards (one trunk, lollipop trees) and put Christmas lights on them for the season. I started them from cuttings, and propagate the cuttings I now take from them when I prune them. This last season, I noticed that the cuttings taken in late May rooted promptly, and those taken in early August are still lagging.

I gave a large bay to a friend in Bon Air, about twenty-five miles north of here in the greater Richmond, Virginia, area, and it survived the 2015 winter ( down to zero here, briefly) in the ground. It died back to the ground but has sent out a lot of new growth since. It is touch and go for bays here, as some winters, it barely freeze, and ot... read morehers can run up and down the thermometer.

On Sep 8, 2015, donnacreation from Sumter, SC wrote:

All of my red bay trees are dying from Laurel wilt here in central SC. It's a shame that such a beautiful native tree is dying out.

On Sep 8, 2015, donnacreation from Sumter, SC wrote:

All of my red bay trees are dying from Laurel wilt here in central SC. It's a shame that such a beautiful native tree is dying out.

On Feb 6, 2014, saya from Heerlen,
Netherlands (Zone 8b) wrote:

I grow it also in my garden. In harsh winters like in 2012 with temps below - 15C and nights down to - 20C for weeks it dies completely down. But soon as the sun warms up the soil it sprouts again. It grows fast but the bush is easy to keep in shape. Could not do without it for culinary use.

On Jan 19, 2013, cubkat from Florence, AL wrote:

I have had a Bay wherever we have lived so I wanted to have one here. It is a bit of trouble if we have very very cold nights but that is not often, so it is worth the trouble to cover it. It's about 2 1/2 feet tall. Died back to the ground the first year I had it but not since then. I planted it in a protected area that gets really good sun year round.

On May 26, 2012, elgordo75 from Surrey,
Canada wrote:

I've grown this plant for three years in Surrey, British Columbia, Canada. I started off with a 4-inch and now it's in a three gallon. I brought it in for the entire first winter, about half the second and left it outside (in a pot) throughout this past winter. There wasn't a trace of damage on it, and now it's growing like a weed. My wife uses it regularly in cooking. It's a great culinary and aesthetic shrub.

On Mar 9, 2011, nancyanne from Lafayette, LA (Zone 9a) wrote:

Bloom season inaccurate. Blooming 3/9/2011 in Lafayette, LA

On Sep 6, 2010, Donnabeverin from Earleville, MD (Zone 7a) wrote:

Everything I read says Laurus nobilis grows in zone 8, but there is a gorgeous, outstanding speciment at least 15 feet or more growing at the National Aboretum in DC....go visit. It is free to visit.
Anyone growing in zone 7?

On Sep 16, 2007, btc129psu from Houston, TX (Zone 9a) wrote:

Sweet bay also makes a good house plant and seems adaptable to bonsai. My best friend has had a sweet bay growing in her living room for over 5 years now. I don't know how big it was when she planted it but it is currently about 5-6 feet. For most of the year it gets bright, diffuse sunlight through the bay window but in summer she moves it out to her front step where it gets dappled shade.

Not quite a year ago now I also bought a bay seedling in a four inch pot and have been trying to adapt it to bonsai culture. It is still too young to be considered a true bonsai and I can't garuntee success as the tree ages but so far it has been healthy and unphased by the stresses of pruning and root binding. It does grow extremely slowly this way though and has definitely been a... read more good excercise in patience.

On Nov 4, 2006, Nkytree from Burlington, KY wrote:

I have two of these potted as summer patio trees here in Northern KY (Cincinnati metro area). Im always envious when I see one of these magnificant plants growing outside in milder climates.

Someone should start selecting for increased cold hardiness...they would make a fortune off a cold tolerant selection as friends and family are always begging me to prune my trees so they can have a few leaves. I just wish I could grow them year-round in the ground in my part of Z6a.

On Nov 9, 2004, PvillePlanter from Pflugerville, TX (Zone 8b) wrote:

My 3 year old bay tree is about 8 feet tall. Nice evergreen. Likes full sun but can tolerate some shade. Not too demanding water wise. Great winter interest since it is the only tree in my front yard that is evergreen. I keep a small jar of dried leaves on hand, but generally pick a fresh leaf or too and put it in pot right after picking. Dried leaves are also nice in potpouri and for craft projects.

On May 9, 2004, foodiesleuth from Honomu, HI (Zone 11) wrote:

My plant is still sort of small, but seems to like it where its planted. Will post updates as it develops. It is now about 3 ft high and was planted as a little 4 " potted plant.

On Mar 13, 2004, watergarener from Denison, TX wrote:

The Bay leaf can be successfully grown in zone 7a in texas, and it becomes a 10' tree.zone 7b is better but this part of Texas is about to be reclassified as b soon, we believe. You definitely want to remove it from your dish before serving. We really enjoy using this tree in our landscape jobs.

On Dec 3, 2001, Baa wrote:

An evergreen tree or shrub from the Mediterranean.

Has glossy, dark green, ovate, scented leaves with a strong mid rib and wavy margins. The bark is smooth and olive green or reddish. Bears green/yellow flowers followed by small, black, egg shaped berries on the female trees.

Flowers March-April

Likes moist, well drained, fertile soil in sun or light shade. Needs a sheltered position from wind and hard frosts.

A must have tree for anyone who has aspirations, it was worn by great men in ancient times be they poets, sports men, soldiers (after a battle was won) or the Emperor of Rome himself.

The Bay leaves are, now, more commonly used as a culinary addition to meats, fish, stews, soups an essential herb in Bouquet G... read morearni, flavour vinegar and curiously milk puddings, the leaves are always removed before serving the dish. Bay leaves are best used freshly picked (and washed). This is the only Laurel species safe to use in cookery.

Bay is NOT a plant to play with, it has narcotic and emetic properties in large doses.

The Bay tree has been used in the past to treat a good many things. It is important to note that almost all the medicines were for external use only. Various concoctions were used to treat fits, ague, plagues (many and various), muscle sprains, earache and hysteria among other things. Nowadays, it is ONLY used in massage oil to relieve muscle sprains and rheumatic pains in the joints.

Bay was also thought to be an enemy of witchcraft and a protection against lightning.

Leaves were strewn ont he floors of rich people, an ingredient in perfume and aftershave, and was also an ingredient in Bay Rum, an alcoholic beverage.