Laurus Nobilis

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At-A-Glance Information

Lauris nobilis, also called Sweet Bay or Grecian Laurel, is a species of evergreen shrubs and trees that need full sun to partial shade and moderate amounts of water to perform well. These plants have aromatic foliage that is used in cooking, and reach 12-40 feet tall and just as wide. Leaves are dark green, and springtime flowers are cream, blooming in clusters. These are great background hedges, screening plants, or small trees and can be grown either in-ground or in containers. The genus Laurus includes about three species, and is a member of the plant family Lauraceae. The best growing zones for Grecian Laurel are 5-9, 12-24, H1 and H2. To find your zone, click here: Zone Map.

Caring for and pruning LAuris Nobilis shrubs

Take care when planting Laurus nobilis in your garden if you have pets; although the leaves are used for cooking for humans, they are toxic to household pets and horses.

Plant Sweet Bay in full sun to partial shade (these shrubs and trees need at least six hours of sunlight each day) in well-draining soil with a neutral to slightly acidic pH. If growing these shrubs or trees in a container, a mix of sand, potting soil, and perlite is best. Amend soil before planting in the garden with organic matter to improve soil texture and nutrients as well as to increase drainage. Provide with regular water, and reduce waterings in winter (but do not let the soil dry out completely in the interim). Fertilize with a slow-release balanced fertilizer during the spring and summer months.
Regularly prune your Sweet Bay plant to maintain an attractive shape and size for your landscape. Pruning will encourage a bushier growing habit and will allow more sunlight to reach the inside of the plant. While pruning your tree, make sure to save the leaves for culinary uses! If growing Sweet Bay in a container, repot every few years to avoid the plant becoming root bound. Mulch around the base of the plant in wintertime, and insulate roots if freezing temperatures are expected.

Propagation

Laurus nobilis can be propagated either by using cuttings or from seed. To ensure that your propagated plant will have the exact same qualities and characteristics as the parent plant, use the cutting method. If you would like to experiment and see what plant you can grow from seed, just keep in mind that it will not necessarily be the same as the parent plant. To propagate your shrub or tree, follow the instructions below:

Propagating Laurus nobilis by Cutting
  1. Gather your materials. You'll need a clean, sanitized, sharp pair of garden shears, rooting hormone, a pencil, and a 3-inch pot filled with well-draining compost or other organic material. If you don't have any potting medium on hand, you can make some. Just mix together equal parts (by volume) moss peat and horticultural-grade sand or grit sand.
  2. In spring or early summertime, choose the plant that you'd like to propagate. Ensure that this plant has had a good watering the night before, as this will improve the chances your cutting will take root. Cut one or more 4-6 inch portion(s) of the end of a non-blooming branch and strip the leaves off of the lower half. Make a hole in your planting medium by pushing your pencil into the soil. Dip the end of the stem in rooting hormone, and plant it in your pot. Fill in soil around the cutting to support it, but do not pack it down too much.
  3. Moisten with water, and ensure that the pot has good drainage. Your pot should be kept in warm, sunny conditions indoors (and not in direct sunlight). Water whenever your soil is dry under the top layer. After about four to six weeks have passed, your cutting should be rooted. When you notice new growth, you'll know you have roots.
  4. Keep your new plant in an area with bright light (though not direct sunlight) and temperatures between 55 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Ensure that the soil stays moist, but not wet, until the next spring, when you can transplant it to its new home. Ensure that the last frost of the year has occurred before doing this, as it can seriously damage your new shrub.

Propagating Laurus nobilis by Seed
  1. Keep in mind that the plant you get from seed will not necessarily mimic all of the characteristics of the parent plant. To propagate by seed, you will need a paper bag, a pot or tray filled with well-draining compost or other organic material, a spray bottle and a fork. If you don't have any potting medium on hand, you can make some. Just mix together equal parts (by volume) moss peat and horticultural-grade sand or grit sand. You will also, after a few weeks, need individual 3-inch pots for each seedling that grows.
  2. Harvest your berries. Laurel produces olive-like fruit that will turn dark purple to black when they are ripe (this will take about 6-9 months). Ripe berries will feel a little soft when squeezed. Take them off of the plant, and place them in a single layer on a clean, dry plate or tray. Place the tray in a warm, ventilated area to dry out. Once they are completely dry, crush them to get the seeds out. Separate the seeds from the flesh, and store them in an airtight container until you are ready to plant them.
  3. Water your prepared seed tray or pot filled with soil, and ensure that good drainage is occurring. Place your seeds in your prepared pot or seed tray about a quarter inch to a half-inch under the soil surface. Cover them with soil and water with your spray bottle. Place your tray of seeds in a warm area that receives bright, indirect light. A greenhouse is the most ideal climate, but a planting tray inside a window will do as well. Germination can take up  to 6 months from sowing. Once you begin to see seedlings sprout and they are able to be handled, transplant them to their own individual 3-inch pots, filled with the same potting medium as described in Step 1. Loosen the seedlings from the potting medium by digging down with the tines of your fork about an inch and a half, gently working the seedling up until it is out. Then, replant the seedling in its individual pot.
  4. Keep the seedling's potting medium moist, but not wet, by spraying the soil with your spray bottle. Keep your new plant in an area with bright light (though not direct sunlight) and temperatures between 55 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Ensure that the soil stays moist, but not wet, until the next spring (after the danger of frost has passed), when you can transplant it to its new home.
Laurus nobilis seeds are contained inside of the fruits produced by these plants.
Laurus nobilis seeds.

Problems and Pests

Sweet Bay shrubs and trees are generally pest and disease-free, but they do suffer from the following issues:
  • Aphids
  • Scale Insects
  • Mealybugs
For more information on these issues, including how to eradicate them if they appear, see the following links: 
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Gallery

Grow Laurus nobilis as a shrub or train it into a small tree.
In addition to being a great screening plant, these shrubs provide culinary flavor.
Sweet Bay can be grown either in-ground or in a container.

Videos

How to grow and care for Bay Laurel.
Propagating Laurus nobilis via cuttings.
How to grow Sweet Bay in your garden.
How to prune a Bay Tree.

Resources

How to Grow Bay (Laurus nobilis)
How to Grow and Care for Bay Laurel
Wikipedia: Laurus nobilis
The New Sunset Western Garden Book: The Ultimate Gardening Guide (2012) - Page 401, Lauris Nobilis
If you have any questions, comments, concerns, or photos you’d like to add to the gallery, please let me know by sending me a message using the button below!
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