Family Lauraceae
Originating from Mediterranean

Evergreen shrub or tree with glossy, aromatic, dark green leaves. Superb as an ornamental, its leaves are also popular in cooking for the flavour they impart to soups and stews.
Bay has been cultivated in the UK for 500years and is the true laurel for making wreathes for distinguished poets (poet laureate). It bears clipping well and can be shaped into balls, cones, pyramids, peacocks – let your imagination run riot. It also makes a lovely hedge and its dark leaves are a perfect backdrop for lighter colours. Grow in sun or shade in well-drained soil. In areas with a harsh climate it is best to grow in pots and move into a conservatory or greenhouse in winter. Outdoors, in very severe frosts the leaves may brown but plants are quick to recover.
Grow in moist but well-drained soil in sun/shade.

Height and spread after 3 – 4 years 2.5m x 1.5m
Semi mature height and spread after 6 – 7 years if not clipped or pruned 4m x 3m
Potential mature size after 25 – 30 years plus if allowed to grow naturally 10m x 6m