How to Grow Bay Laurel
Laurus nobilis
Bay Laurel is an evergreen shrub prized for its aromatic leaves used in cooking and perfumery. Gardeners grow it to add Mediterranean flair to landscapes or containers while enjoying fresh culinary herbs year-round.
📷 Wikipedia: Laurus nobilisStarting Bay Laurel: indoors or direct sow?
🌾 Sow directly in the garden — Bay Laurel is not usually started indoors.
This plant is not sown from seed; instead, start cuttings indoors shortly after the last frost or purchase established plants and transplant them directly into their final location once outdoor temperatures are consistently warm.
Soil, care & harvest
Do not sow Bay Laurel seeds; this plant is best started from cuttings or purchased as a young shrub. If propagating via stem cuttings, take them in spring after the last frost when new growth begins. Prepare well-draining soil with a pH between 6.0 and 7.0. Insert cuttings into moist medium rather than sowing seeds at a specific depth.
Space plants according to their mature size, typically allowing room for a 4-10 foot shrub in containers or ground planting. Provide full sun to partial shade and water moderately, letting the soil dry slightly between sessions. Apply mulch around the base to retain moisture and feed sparingly with balanced fertilizer during the growing season.
Watch for spider mites and aphids; prevent them by keeping foliage clean and watering regularly. Harvest leaves anytime after they mature, usually several months after planting or propagation. Snip sprigs before use in cooking to maintain flavor intensity without damaging the entire plant structure.
