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Bay laurel

Bay laurel

Laurus nobilis

Balcony Garden Sun Partial shade ShrubEasy

For your Bay laurel

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Bay Laurel Fertiliser Bay Laurel FertiliserFrom €11,95View product → Bay Laurel Compost Bay Laurel Compost€8,95View product → Bay Laurel Repotting Set Bay Laurel Repotting Set€19,95View product →

Profile

Plant group
Evergreen Mediterranean shrub
Growth & habit
Bushy or a small tree; can be trained as a standard or topiary.
Foliage
Firm, aromatic leaves retained throughout the year.
Family
Laurel family (Lauraceae)
Origin
Mediterranean region
Height
Can be kept smaller in containers by pruning; several metres in the ground
Bloom
Small yellowish flowers in spring
Toxicity
Use leaves for flavouring and remove before eating. Do not confuse with cherry laurel; not a pet food plant.

Care calendar

Leaf emergence

  1. Jan
  2. Feb
  3. Mar
  4. Apr
  5. May
  6. Jun
  7. Jul
  8. Aug
  9. Sep
  10. Oct
  11. Nov
  12. Dec

New growth follows light and warmth.

Flowering / flower development

  1. Jan
  2. Feb
  3. Mar
  4. Apr
  5. May
  6. Jun
  7. Jul
  8. Aug
  9. Sep
  10. Oct
  11. Nov
  12. Dec

Small yellowish flowers in spring

Leaf fall

Evergreen; older leaves are replaced gradually.

Pruning & growth habit

  1. Jan
  2. Feb
  3. Mar
  4. Apr
  5. May
  6. Jun
  7. Jul
  8. Aug
  9. Sep
  10. Oct
  11. Nov
  12. Dec

Shape and leaf care as needed, not compulsory annual pruning.

Guidance for Germany and Central Europe. Position, weather, species and cultivar shift these windows; indoor and container plants also depend on their winter conditions.

Your seasonal care plan

  • Water according to moisture

    Jan · Feb · Mar · Apr · May · Jun · Jul · Aug · Sep · Oct · Nov · Dec

    Check regularly during growth; water less in cool winter quarters. Empty the saucer.

  • Refresh root space

    Mar · Apr · May

    Repot in spring when roots need more room and retain the previous planting level.

    View product dosage and application →

  • Feed active growth

    Apr · May · Jun · Jul · Aug · Sep

    Use suitable fertiliser and account for nutrients in fresh compost.

    View product dosage and application →

  • Maintain the crown

    Jun · Jul · Aug

    Shorten individual young shoots while retaining the natural leaf shape.

  • Prepare winter quarters

    Oct · Nov · Dec · Jan · Feb · Mar

    Move containers to a bright, cool position in good time; protect the root ball from freezing.

Highlighted months are guidance, not fixed dates. Observe the plant, root ball and weather; water, feed and repot according to actual need.

Seasonal care intensity

Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec

Seasonal guidance for Germany. Needs depend on location, weather and species. Check moisture in winter too; these markers are not a feeding schedule.

Peak care Active Reduced care

Care tips

  • Check regularly during growth; water less in cool winter quarters. Empty the saucer.
  • Repot in spring when roots need more room and retain the previous planting level.
  • Use suitable fertiliser and account for nutrients in fresh compost.

Fruit & harvest

Fruit and seed formation

Pollinated female plants can develop dark drupes.

Harvest and use

Harvest healthy leaves as needed, use fresh or dried for flavouring and remove before serving.

Plant knowledge at a glance

Position, benefits & character

Position & soil

Sun to partial shade, sheltered from wind and with good drainage. A container and bright, cool winter quarters suit central European cultivation.

Distinctive features

True culinary bay is Laurus nobilis. Cherry laurel is Prunus laurocerasus and is not a culinary substitute.

Benefits

Combines evergreen structure with aromatic culinary leaves.

Partners & symbioses

Male and female flowers normally grow on separate plants; pollinated female plants can bear fruit.

Pruning & growth habit

Woody shoots form a dense crown; older bark becomes grey and more fissured.

  1. 1. Choose the shape

    Decide between a free shrub and a standard crown before pruning.

  2. 2. Shorten young shoots

    Trim individual summer shoots with secateurs to avoid cutting through large leaves.

  3. 3. Assess winter damage

    Remove dead portions back to healthy wood in spring.

Nursery forms

This overview explains nursery supply forms. It does not indicate current availability in the GREEN24 shop.

Bare-root

Not typical for this profile

Not a usual nursery form for this plant.

Root-balled

Not typical for this profile

Not a usual nursery form for this plant.

Container-grown

Common form

Available as rooted nursery stock; check habit and size when buying.

Young plant

Common form

Available as rooted nursery stock; check habit and size when buying.

Shrub

Common form

Available as rooted nursery stock; check habit and size when buying.

Feathered tree

Not typical for this profile

Not a usual nursery form for this plant.

Half-standard

Common form

Available as rooted nursery stock; check habit and size when buying.

Standard

Common form

Available as rooted nursery stock; check habit and size when buying.

Topiary

Common form

Available as rooted nursery stock; check habit and size when buying.

Propagation & grafting

Propagation

Use semi-ripe summer cuttings or fresh seed. Rooting and germination can take time.

Grafting

Cuttings and seedlings are usual. A standard can be trained and is not necessarily grafted.

Species & cultivars

Laurus nobilis

The green-leaved species for cooking and topiary.

Laurus nobilis 'Aurea'

Yellow-toned foliage for a contrasting accent.

Laurus nobilis f. angustifolia

Narrower, wavy leaves.

Pests & diseases

These signs support an initial assessment. Different causes may look alike; choose a treatment only after identifying the problem.

Check for scale

Inspect leaf undersides and shoots for attached scales and sticky deposits.

Rolled leaf margins

Inspect distorted young leaves for bay suckers.

Roots and drainage

When leaves yellow, first compare moisture, drainage and location.

Hardiness · USDA

Zones are a guide; assess containers and microclimate separately.

Laurus nobilis
USDA 8b–10b

USDA zones describe long-term average winter extremes. Containers, young plants, wet soil, wind and late frost need separate consideration.

Understand USDA zones and maps →

A closer look

Potted bay laurel
Growth habit

Potted bay laurel

Potted bay laurel. Unmodified photograph. Photo: K. Andre · CC BY 2.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/). Source: https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/laurus-nobilis/

K. Andre · CC BY 2.0 · Image source
Bay laurel leaf underside
Leaf

Bay laurel leaf underside

Bay laurel leaf underside. Unmodified photograph. Photo: Forest and Kim Starr · CC BY 2.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/). Source: https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/laurus-nobilis/

Forest and Kim Starr · CC BY 2.0 · Image source
Bay laurel in flower
Flower

Bay laurel in flower

Bay laurel in flower. Unmodified photograph. Photo: Manuelo · CC BY 2.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/). Source: https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/laurus-nobilis/

Manuelo · CC BY 2.0 · Image source

Botanical features vary with age, species and cultivar.

Matching GREEN24 products

Matching fertilisers and substrates for your plant care.