Water it regularly but always allow the soil to dry out between waterings, so the roots don’t rot. Scale can sometimes become a problem and there are moths that will lay their eggs between two leaves and sort of fuse them together with a cottony fluff. It is tender so bring it indoors in the winter if you live in a climate with cold winters. When it signals trouble by dropping a few leaves, use the leaves in cooking and begin misting the tree regularly with water. Bay is also a traditional component of the French bouquet garni herbs. Its leaves have the strongest flavor when dried. During the ancient Greek and Roman times, the leaves were woven together to create highly renowned crowns to adorn the heads of athletes and rulers. The Bay Laurel is an evergreen shrub or small tree best known for its fragrant foliage and use as a flavorful seasoning. To start, buy a bay laurel plant from a reliable nursery – they are usually sold in 3 to 4 inch pots. To keep its size in check, use a small container. The bay laurel is dioecious (), with male and female flowers on separate plants. Bay laurel reminds one of the Mediterranean Coast with its very fragrant foliage.. As a seasoning, dried leaves are broken or crumbled into cooking foods and allowed to permeate the dish. Use Bay Laurel for seasoning, garnish and for pickling mixtures. All images are for reference only and may not represent the sizes of plants shipped. It is known to American cooks as a seasoning, but to gardeners, it is also a charming garden ornamental. Use caution when weeding or cultivating around the base of the tree. Design Ideas This is a fantastic evergreen tree and is the source of culinary bay and the famous laurels of Greek antiquity. It originates in Mediterranean regions, but has become popularized worldwide. Even leaves that dry and fall off the tree are still fragrant and usable. Whether they season as well as regular Laurus nobilis is a matter of personal taste. Laurel, any of several evergreen shrubs and small trees of the genus Laurus within the family Lauraceae; the name is chiefly applied to L. nobilis (also called bay, sweet bay, bay laurel, and bay tree), native to the Mediterranean region but now widely cultivated in other regions of the world. To keep your potted bay tree portable, keep it pruned to no taller than 5 to 6 feet. Umbellularia californica is a large hardwood tree native to coastal forests and the Sierra foothills of California, as well as to coastal forests extending into Oregon. Other common names for the Laurus nobilis tree are sweet bay, bay laurel, true laurel, Grecian laurel, and laurel. The bark is dark grey and smooth, even in old age. And yes, some cooks want it dried, but fresh also works. The leaves dont soften much in cooking and are removed before eat… Laurel plants are rich in history. Use Bay Laurel for seasoning, garnish and for pickling mixtures. In extreme cases, prune to about 6 inches and allow new shoots to form from the base. In cooler areas, bring it indoors for the winter. To begin, choose a pot of at least 12 inches deep and wide. But if you want the greatest chance of success, fall or winter is the best time to move your plant, so long as you can work the soil. Bay laurel and California look alike; both are evergreens, and the leaves have the same shape, although California bay’s leaves are … However, you may have trouble keeping your indoor bay tree from drying out in the low humidity of your home. Frequent pruning will mean fewer flowers and berries. But be advised that some people find sweet bay to be a skin irritant. Bay roots are very shallow, and frequent watering may be necessary during dry spells. It is endemic to the California Floristic Province.It is the sole species in the genus Umbellularia.. $14.99. There are other plants that go by the common names of bay and sweet bay and these are not necessarily edible. McMinnville TN For garden purposes, it is often pruned to 8’ tall or less. Bay Laurel Plants are hardy outdoors only as far north as Zone 8. How To Get Started Growing Your Own Indoor Bay Laurel. Height – 10 to 24 feet (3 to 7 meters) Exposure – full sun Foliage – evergreen. The range of available options is extremely broad when it comes to selecting a container to grow this plant. The leaves produce the best flavor if the plant is given full sun for a portion of the year. The plant is the source of bay leaf (q.v. Bay laurels are versatile plants that can thrive indoors and out. Basic Bay Laurel facts. Bay laurel goes by the botanical name Laurus nobilis. Plant your Bay Laurel, Laurus nobilis, in an attractive tub or container plant for the patio. Laurus nobilis - 'Bay Leaf Tree' - Bay Laurel or Sweet Bay - Live Plant 3.7 out of 5 stars 316. Avoid exposure to both drafts and heat from appliances. Native to the Mediterranean region, sweet bay is an attractive evergreen tree that can reach as many as 18 metres (60 feet) in height. 37110. A 24-inch pot should be fine for a 4- to 6-foot tree. Bay is only hardy in USDA hardiness zones 8 through 10. In Yuki, it is called pōl’-cum ōl. Bay laurel is used in stews, soups, tomato sauces, on fish and pretty much anywhere you want a subtle, earthy flavor.