The illustrated growing guide
Bay Laurel
Laurus nobilis
Family Lauraceae
Est. zones 8-10
A pot of real bay by the kitchen door: summer patio, winter bright window, and you never buy those flavorless jarred leaves again. Fresh-dried bay is a different spice.
Full Sun to Part Shade
Low water
Slow growth
From the print shop
Growing bay laurel? Hang it.
Our Herbs, Greenery & Desert collection carries bay laurel — Laurus nobilis, print Nº 4, “Bay Laurel.”
16 designsfrom $21.99white or black groundmatte poster, unframed
I
Overview
Will bay laurel suit your garden, and what goes wrong.
Will it fruit where you are?
Enter your ZIP — we look up your USDA hardiness zone (2023 map) and check it against what bay laurel actually needs.
Life cyclePerennial zones 8–10, annual elsewhereBay Laurel at a glance
Common bay laurel problems
II
Growing
Light, water, soil, propagation and the season’s jobs.
How to grow bay laurel: light, water & soil
How to plant & propagate bay laurel
When to spray bay laurel
Growing season. Dab scale with alcohol swabs; check leaf undersides monthly indoors.
III
The year
What bay laurel asks for, month by month.
The bay laurel year, month by month
PruneHarvestWhat each band means
- Prune — shape it now — cuts heal cleanly and structure is visible.
- Harvest — picking time — check ripeness every few days.
The bay laurel year as text
- Jan harvest
- Feb harvest
- Mar pruning, harvest
- Apr pruning, harvest
- May pruning, harvest
- Jun harvest
- Jul harvest
- Aug harvest
- Sep harvest
- Oct harvest
- Nov harvest
- Dec harvest
These are the species' typical months — expect them a few weeks earlier in warm zones and later in cold ones. Watch the plant, not just the calendar.
IV
Ecology & uses
What it does for the garden, and what it is grown for.
Bay Laurel in the garden system
- Understory layer tree
What bay laurel is grown for
✓ Commonly eatenSafe in cooking for people — remove whole leaves before serving, as they do not soften and large amounts can obstruct. ASPCA lists bay laurel toxic to dogs, cats and horses (eugenol and other essential oils): vomiting and diarrhoea.
Harvesting & storing bay laurel
Leaves year-round — pick, dry a week, cook.
Edibility, identification, and traditional-use notes here are general reference — not medical or veterinary advice, and not a claim that any plant treats or prevents anything. Medicinal ratings record how strongly a plant features in herbal tradition, nothing more. Never eat or dose a plant you have not positively identified. More on how to use this library.
V
Cultivars
Named varieties of bay laurel, ruled as a catalogue.
Best bay laurel varieties & cultivars
'Aurea' (gold); standard
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Sources & plant ID
Where the care distinctions come from, and how the plant is filed.
Research basis
Sources behind this profile
No extension citations are attached to bay laurelyet. The care figures below come from the library's own catalogue rather than a traced primary source.
Plant ID
VII
Where to buy
Third-party nurseries — not Story Thyme Farms.
Third-party nurseries, not Story Thyme Farms. Prices are theirs.
Story Thyme Farms may earn a small commission from these links, at no cost to you — it never changes what we recommend.
VIII
Questions
Bay Laurel questions, answered straight.
Is bay laurel safe for kids and pets?
Bay Laurel is commonly eaten and isn't considered toxic, but "commonly eaten" isn't a guarantee for any particular person or animal — allergies, quantity, and which part you eat all matter. One caveat on this one: Safe in cooking for people — remove whole leaves before serving, as they do not soften and large amounts can obstruct. ASPCA lists bay laurel toxic to dogs, cats and horses (eugenol and other essential oils): vomiting and diarrhoea. Never eat a plant you haven't positively identified, and check with a vet before letting pets or livestock graze anything new.
When do you harvest bay laurel?
Leaves year-round — pick, dry a week, cook.
How do you propagate bay laurel?
Seed (stratify), cuttings, or layering.
IX
Elsewhere
Where bay laurel sits in the library.
Comfrey
Lavender
Rosemary
Anise Hyssop