Description

BAY LAUREL (Laurus nobilis) is a classic Mediterranean tree the leaves, buds and flowers of which are used for culinary purposes. That is why buying ORGANIC plants is so important for your health. The blooms are beautiful, the buds offer chefs a concentrated burst of flavor, but it is the leaves, pinched and used fresh or dried (the dried is more pungent), that are most commonly used, especially since pruning will provide many. In my Italian cooking, no dish is complete without it. Bay is also used in perfumery and as a carminative (relieves gastric gasses - another good reason to use in your cooking). The tree can grow up to 40 feet under ideal conditions, but can also be pruned to size desired and also make great topiary subjects. Outdoors they grow like crazy. Perennial Zones 8-10 (although I am in 7b and they are perennial here as well - even through one of the worst winters of my memory). But you can also grow very successfully in containers that can be brought in during cold weather. Offered are first year well-rooted starts in 3"-4" pots. Buy several, and plant together to braid into a standard! Shipping commences mid-April appropriate to your growing zone..

Please keep in mind that plants are fragile. Please select only Priority Shipping on checkout (or pickup if local to Warrenton.) I package very carefully securing the pot within the box and labeling the outside "This Side Up" and "Fragile Live Plants". I also prefer to only ship plants on Monday or Tuesday of the week to prevent their sitting unnecessarily an extra day in some post office enroute. Nevertheless, sometimes stuff happens. So, if your plant arrives damaged or distressed, please notify me within 24 hours of delivery with a photo. I cannot provide any recompense if you do not do that simple thing.

GROWING TIPS: Transplant after "hardening off" when all danger of frost is past in a sunny position in a mix of sand and loam with good drainage. If you are in cooler climates, it won't mind being crowded with other protective plants as long as the sun hits it most of the day. Can also be pot grown if given a deep enough pot and brought in for the winter provided you give it excellent light. Bay Laurel grows in spurts, usually in Spring and Summer, so feed a balanced liquid fertilizer when this is going on. Pinch out tops and branch ends to encourage branching.