Bay Laurel Laurus nobilis
Other Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- law-russ NO-bil-iss
- This plant has low severity poison characteristics.
- See below
- Description
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Sweet Bay is an evergreen tree or shrub in the laurel family native to the Mediterranian area. In its native habitat, it can reach up to 60 feet tall. In NC it is generally grown in a container as a patio or houseplant and is much smaller. The aromatic leaves are used in cooking such as soups and pasta. It has separate male and female plants with only the female ones producing the berry-like drupes.
It tolerates a variety of well-drained soil types in full sun to partial shade. It grows slowly but has been used as a hedge or as a topiary. It needs to be brought indoors in the winter in areas colder than zone 8b to prevent frost damage.
Use it as a small tree in an herb garden, or plant several for a screen or a privacy hedge. It can be pruned into a topiary. Its evergreen leaves and fissured dark gray bark make it an excellent choice as a specimen for shady locations and also give it good winter interest.
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: Scales and psyllid are occasional pests. This plant is susceptible to laurel wilt, Phytophthora, and root rot.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Laurus
- Species:
- nobilis
- Family:
- Lauraceae
- Uses (Ethnobotany):
- It is used in herbal medicine and in massage therapy.
- Life Cycle:
- Woody
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Mediterranean
- Fire Risk Rating:
- low flammability
- Wildlife Value:
- Trees attract birds.
- Edibility:
- Leaves are used to flavor foods while cooking, but the leaves should not be eaten for a variety of reasons including but not limited to choking and creating cuts inside the digestive tract or/ and mouth because the leaves are sharp.
- Dimensions:
- Height: 8 ft. 0 in. - 12 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 8 ft. 0 in. - 30 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Edible
- Herb
- Houseplant
- Perennial
- Shrub
- Tree
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Habit/Form:
- Conical
- Dense
- Oval
- Pyramidal
- Growth Rate:
- Medium
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- Clay
- High Organic Matter
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Occasionally Dry
- Occasionally Wet
- Available Space To Plant:
- 6-feet-12 feet
- 12-24 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 8b, 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Black
- Purple/Lavender
- Fruit Type:
- Berry
- Fruit Length:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- Small black or purple berries 1/4"-1/2". Dried fruits can cause a litter problem.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Green
- White
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Flower Description:
- Dioecious, meaning there are male and female trees. Green, white, or yellow flowers appear in the spring from March to May.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Leaf Color:
- Blue
- Gray/Silver
- Green
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Edible
- Fragrant
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Shape:
- Ovate
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Description:
- Simple, alternate, ovate blue-green to silvery gray green, with smooth margins.
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Bark:
- Bark Color:
- Dark Gray
- Light Gray
- Surface/Attachment:
- Fissured
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Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Container
- Houseplants
- Patio
- Small Space
- Woodland
- Landscape Theme:
- Edible Garden
- English Garden
- Garden for the Blind
- Design Feature:
- Hedge
- Screen/Privacy
- Specimen
- Attracts:
- Songbirds
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
- Diseases
- Insect Pests
- Poor Soil
- Problems:
- Messy
- Problem for Cats
- Problem for Dogs
- Problem for Horses
