Botanic Garden >> Gardening > >> Houseplants >> Plants for Details >> Tree

Sweet Bay: Aromatic Culinary Tree for Hedging or Containers

Overview

Sweet Bay (Laurus nobilis) grows into a slender, conical small pyramidal tree valued for its strongly fragrant foliage used as a flavorful seasoning. It can be sheared into a formal hedge or topiary form and performs well in containers. Evergreen.

Growing Conditions

Light: Full sun to partial sun
Water: Low moisture needs

Size & Spread

Height: 10–15 feet
Spread: 20–35 feet

Photo credit: Doreen Wynja

Tree: Growing Sweet Peas in Zone 4/5: Deep Rich Soil, Daily Picking & Feeding; Bay Tree (Laurus nobilis) Leaf Browning in a Pot: Seek a Tree Specialist; Controlling Earwigs on Sweet Corn with Insecticidal Soap; To Pinch or Not to Pinch Pepper Flowers: Natural Approach; Sweet Bay Magnolia: The Fragrant Southern Beauty for Gardens and Wildlife; Bay Laurel (Laurus nobilis); Growing Sweet Corn: The Taste of Summer Fresh from the Stalk; Growing Sweet Bay (Laurus nobilis); Sweet Bay: Culinary & Ornamental Evergreen; Black Twig Borer Damage on Sweet Bay Magnolia: Identification and Management

Garden Articles

Sugar vs. Salt for Weed Control: How They Affect Soil Microbes and Plants

Ground Squirrels in Landscaping: Identify Species, Then Exclude

Why Are My Onions Too Hot? Choosing Sweet Varieties

Hoop's Blue Spruce – Outstanding Bluest Form

Boxwood 'Green Mountain': Vigorous Upright Evergreen with Natural Cone Shape

Hotbiscus 'Sweet Pink'

Growing Sweet Peppers: A Quick Guide

Plants

Secure Trellis Installation for Climbing Roses

Bay Laurel and Red Robin Defoliation: Pest Identification Needed

Diagnosing and Treating Bay Laurel Leaf Discoloration: Scale, Mites, and Fungal Issues

Overwintering Sweet Potato Vine Indoors: Easy in Sunny Spot

Rooting Sweet Broom Cuttings and Pruning for Longevity

Dividing Sweet Autumn Clematis in Minnesota

Low-Maintenance Perennials for Zone 5: Shade and Sun Lists