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B
HerbsHalf-HardyPerennial (long-lived)
Bay Laurel
Bay laurel is an evergreen aromatic shrub grown for leathery leaves that lend savoury depth to stocks, stews and braises. It is both a useful culinary herb and an attractive structural plant for containers, courtyards and sheltered borders.
Basic information
Category
Herbs
Lifecycle
Perennial (long-lived)
Hardiness
Half-Hardy
Planting partners
2 companions · 0 crops to avoid
Growth profile
Plant spacing
120 cm
Row spacing
150 cm
Height
300 cm
Spread
120 cm
Calendar
JJan
FFeb
MMar
AApr
MMay
JJun
JJul
AAug
SSep
OOct
NNov
DDec
Sow Indoors
Sow Outdoors
Plant Out
Flowering / Harvest
Timings based on average frost dates in the UK. Sign up to set your frost dates.
Care tips
Grow bay in sun or light shade with reliable drainage, and avoid letting pots stand wet through winter. Clip lightly after the main growing season to maintain shape, repot container plants before they become rootbound, and shelter from severe cold if needed.
Common pests
Bay sucker, scale insects, leaf spot, root problems in waterlogged compost.
Don’t grow with
No crops to avoid have been added yet.