Bay Laurel
Laurus nobilis
Family Lauraceae
One pot of real bay laurel ends the jarred-leaf era forever — fresh leaves, dried a week, carry a resinous depth the flavorless supermarket jars lost years ago. Every stock, braise, and pot of beans in the house gets better from a single glossy plant.
As a houseplant it's a natural: a slow, elegant evergreen at three to six feet in a pot, summering on the patio and wintering by a bright window, trimmable into topiary. Leaves come out whole before serving, and pets should leave it alone. Give the kitchen door its bay tree.
Full Sun to Part Shade
Low water
Slow growth
From the print shop
Growing bay laurel? Hang it.
Our Plant Library collection carries bay laurel — Laurus nobilis, print Nº 43, “Bay Laurel.”
526 designsfrom $12.99white or black backgroundmatte poster, unframed
Will it fruit where you are?
Enter your ZIP — we look up your USDA hardiness zone (2023 map) and check it against what bay laurel actually needs.
Life cyclePerennial zones 8–10, annual elsewhereBay Laurel · Common problems
Common bay laurel problems
Bay Laurel · Growing & propagation
Growing bay laurel
- Light
- Full Sun to Part Shade
- Water
- Low-Moderate
Let pots dry an inch down
Soil- Well-drained, average · pH 6.0 - 7.0
Fertilizer- Light spring feed for potted trees
Pruning- Spring
Clip to shape — takes topiary beautifully; that's the classic look.
Spacing- Container
How to plant & propagate bay laurel
- Propagate
- Seed (stratify), cuttings, or layering
Bay Laurel · Seasonal care & spray guidance
The bay laurel growing playbook
When to spray bay laurel
Growing season. Dab scale with alcohol swabs; check leaf undersides monthly indoors.
Bay Laurel · Calculators & field guides
A little help in the garden.
Bay Laurel · Yearly calendar
The bay laurel year, month by month
Jan
HarvestJanuary to December
Prune
HarvestPruneMarch to May
HarvestJanuary to December
What each band means
- Prune — shape it now — cuts heal cleanly and structure is visible.
- Harvest — picking time — check ripeness every few days.
These are the species' typical months — expect them a few weeks earlier in warm zones and later in cold ones. Watch the plant, not just the calendar.
Bay Laurel · Ecology & uses
Ecology & uses
Laurus nobilis
Bay Laurel in the garden system
- Understory layer tree
Attracts- Birds
Moisture- Upland / dry
Deer- Browsed
Protect young plants
Origin- Introduced
What bay laurel is grown for
✓ Commonly eatenSafe in cooking for people — remove whole leaves before serving, as they do not soften and large amounts can obstruct. ASPCA lists bay laurel toxic to dogs, cats and horses (eugenol and other essential oils): vomiting and diarrhoea.
- Use
- Stocks
- Use
- Braises
- Use
- Topiary
- Edible value
- 3/5
Harvesting & storing bay laurel
Leaves year-round — pick, dry a week, cook.
Edibility, identification, and traditional-use notes here are general reference — not medical or veterinary advice, and not a claim that any plant treats or prevents anything. Medicinal ratings record how strongly a plant features in herbal tradition, nothing more. Never eat or dose a plant you have not positively identified. More on how to use this library.
Bay Laurel · Varieties & cultivars
Choosing a bay laurel variety
'Aurea' (gold); standard
Sources & plant identity
Know what you’re growing.
See where the knowledge comes from.
Bay Laurel
Laurus nobilis
The plant, at a glance.
- Botanical name
- Laurus nobilis
- Plant family
- Lauraceae
- Growth habit
- Tree · Tender Perennial
- Origin
- Introduced
- USDA plant symbol
- LANO80
- Invasive risk
- Low
Hardiness, size and timing vary with your cultivar, soil and climate.
Rooted in research.
University extension research, brought together with hands-on growing experience at Story Thyme Farms.
for Bay Laurel
Research from these sources
Publisher marks identify sources, not sponsorship or endorsement.
Questions
Bay Laurel questions, answered straight.
Is bay laurel safe for kids and pets?
Bay Laurel is commonly eaten and isn't considered toxic, but "commonly eaten" isn't a guarantee for any particular person or animal — allergies, quantity, and which part you eat all matter. One caveat on this one: Safe in cooking for people — remove whole leaves before serving, as they do not soften and large amounts can obstruct. ASPCA lists bay laurel toxic to dogs, cats and horses (eugenol and other essential oils): vomiting and diarrhoea. Never eat a plant you haven't positively identified, and check with a vet before letting pets or livestock graze anything new.
When do you harvest bay laurel?
Leaves year-round — pick, dry a week, cook.
How do you propagate bay laurel?
Seed (stratify), cuttings, or layering.
Elsewhere
Where bay laurel sits in the library.
Comfrey
Lavender
Rosemary
Anise Hyssop