How to grow Bay Laurel

Laurus nobilus

Be aware that this plant can sucker prolifically. (zone 10) Any cut roots will send up a shoot in two places, the severed main root, and the remaining root “tip”. The suckers can be quite vigorous and will eventually be as large as the original tree.
Probably best grown in a large pot.

Growing Bay laurel from seed

Use well drained gritty compost

Transplanting Bay laurel

It can be clipped or grown in a container, so it does not require the room usually needed by a tree

Ensure that temperatures are mild and all chance of frost has passed before planting out, as Bay laurel is a hardy plant.

Harvesting Bay laurel

The leaves can be used in cooking and can be harvested conservatively all year. Choose mature leaves that have turned dark green

Seed Saving Bay laurel

Plant fresh seed

How long does Bay laurel take to grow?

These estimates for how long Bay laurel takes to sprout, grow and harvest are from real observations from real gardeners, right around the world.

Days to Germination How long does it take Bay laurel to germinate?
12 days

Average 12 days | Min 12 days | Max 12 days (1)

Days to Transplant How long until I can plant out Bay laurel?
+ days

Average days | Min days | Max days (0)

Days to Maturity How long until Bay laurel is ready for harvest / bloom?
+ days

Average days | Min days | Max days (0)

Total Growing Days How long does it take to grow Bay laurel?
= days

Bay laurel Folklore & Trivia

Poet laureate, Ovid, retold the story of the Greek nymph, Daphne, who was transformed into a Laurel Tree by her father, Peneus, so that she could avoid the amorous pursuit of the god, Apollo. Thereafter, Apollo wore a wreath of Laurel to show his love for Daphne.

Bay laurel was used to fashion the laurel wreath of ancient Greece, a symbol of highest status. A wreath of bay laurel was given as a price at the Pythian Games because the games were in honor of Apollo, and the laurel was one of his symbols.1

Other names for Bay laurel

Bay tree, True laurel, Sweet bay, Grecian laurel, Laurel, Bay

Misspellings: Lorrel, Lauril

Footnotes

1 Union Community Collage-Laurel


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