It grows in many soil types but requires sunny conditions whether growing the plant indoors or outdoors.
Bay laurel is toxic to animals.Read on to learn more about bay laurel tree care.
Tip
Bay laurel and bay leaf are the same.
The Spruce / Almar Creative
They are commonly grown in pots.
Light
Keep your indoor bay laurel tree near a sunny window in the winter.
Avoid exposure to drafts and heat from appliances and air ducts.
The Spruce / Almar Creative
Outdoor plants prefer partial shade but will tolerate full sun.
In areas with hot, dry summers, some afternoon shade is ideal.
The plant produces the best-flavored leaves if it receives full sun for at least a portion of the year.
The Spruce / Almar Creative
Soil
Plant outdoor bay laurel trees in average garden soil that drains well.
Bay laurels grown in containers can be planted in a regular commercialpotting mix.
Water
Water bay laurel plant regularly to keep the soil moist but not overly wet.
The Spruce / Almar Creative
Bay laurel roots are shallow and frequent watering could cause root rot.
Allow the soil to dry somewhat between waterings but do not let it dry completely.
If the tree begins dropping leaves, it lacks sufficient humidity.
Use the leaves in cooking, and consider installing a room humidifier to increase humidity levels in your home.
Because bay laurel is slow-growing, it doesnt require much food when grown outdoors in the landscape.
However, bay laurel plants grown in containers needsupplemental fertilizer.
Here are some of the better true bay laurel cultivars.
New dense growth will emerge from wherever you snip off the branches.
Propagating Bay Laurel
Bay laurel is relatively easy to propagate by rooting softwood cuttings.
This is a slow-growing plant, so be patient.
Then go through this.
Potting and Repotting Bay Laurel
Bay laurel is a popular container plant that can live for decades.
A 24-inch pot will accommodate a 5- to 6-foot tree.
Grow the plant in a regular potting mix.
You shouldnt need to repot the plant more than once every five years.
Overwintering
Potted plants moved outdoors for the summer should be brought indoors as temperatures dip below 50F.
No winter protection is necessary for trees in warm-weather zones but it is a good time for pruning.
If you see two leaves stuck together, gently peel them apart and remove the eggs or larva.
Often the tree will recover on its own the following spring.
If your tree shows signs of die-back in the spring, prune the stems below the damage.
Don’t worry if this happens.
These plants like fairly steady temperatures and constant moisture levels.
This problem is rarely fatal.
Less commonly, insufficient feeding might cause yellowing leaves.
Berries Make a Mess
Berries produced by bay laurel can become messy.
However, both a male and female plant are needed for flowers.
Indoors, place pots in a sunny window that receives bright direct light.
A bay laurel tree will likely not survive winters outdoors if temperatures go below 50F.
Barring injury from cold temperatures, a bay laurel plant can live for at least 50 years.
Harvest bay laurel leaves by picking them off the plant when they are mature.
Plants should be at least two years old before harvesting.
Your bay laurel tree is likely turning yellow because it is overwatered.
Raman, Vijayasankar, et al.Which Bay Leaf Is in Your Spice Rack?
A Quality Control Study.Planta Medica, vol.
12/13, 2017, pp.
- doi:10.1055/s-0043-103963
Sweet Bay, Laurus nobilis.
University of Wisconsin-Madison Extension.
Bay Laurel: An Attractive Culinary Addition for Your Landscape.
University of Florida Extension.
Pest Control Companion Planting Chart.
North Carolina State Extension.
University of California Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources.
