bay tree
Laurus nobilis
RHS AGM 1993, RHS Plants for Pollinators
USDA zones8 to 10
SunHandles full sun to partial sun
WaterHandles dry or moderate or wet soil
Size10 to 30 feet tall5 to 20 feet wide
- Growth rate
- Moderate
- Habit
- Conical
- Bloom season
- Spring, summer, autumn, winter
- Bloom color
- Yellowish-green
- Foliage color
- Blue, gray/silver, green
- Soil types
- Sand, loam, clay, chalk
- Soil pH
- Acid, alkaline, neutral
Garden uses
Attracts
Notes
Bay tree (Laurus nobilis) is a shrub for containers, food gardens, specimen planting, and hedges. It is hardy to USDA zone 8, or down to 10°F (-12°C). This plant likes full or part sun and dry to wet soil of most types. Deer usually look elsewhere for a meal. Bay leaves smell fragrant when crushed and are grown for flavoring tomato sauces and soups. You can let it grow as a shrub or prune it into any shape and size you like.
Pairs well with Strawberry tree, Loquat, and Red spider lily.
Native range
Europe, Middle East, Africa, Corse, and 7 more places. See all 11
Europe, Middle East, Africa, Corse, Cyprus, East Aegean Is., Kriti, NW. Balkan Pen., Sardegna, Sicilia, and Türkiye.