Bay trees can be phenomenal spreading trees. [27], In modern Italy laurel wreaths are worn as a crown by graduating school students.[29]. Common name: Bay Laurel, Sweet Bay, Bay Tree, True Laurel, Grecian Laurel, Laurel Tree, Laurel. Width: 15 - 30 feet. [8] Whole bay leaves are used almost exclusively as flavor agents during the food preparation stage. Laurus nobilis ‘Saratoga’, growing in Southern California. You will find it in traditional recipes all around the world. You’ve been warned. Bay is an evergreen plant that can be grown as a single-trunked tree or a multi-trunked shrub. The dried leaves add a classic Mediterranean flavor to soups and sauces. Perfect planted in its natural form as a screen or single specimen for all Mediterranean-inspired landscapes. Bay standard in container at Minnesota Landscape Arboretum. The leaves are derived from Laurus nobilis L. (Lauraceae). Bay Laurel can be shaped into hedge for topiary form or grown as a small tree. When bruised, the leaves release a sweet aromatic scent[245]. Thus the laurels had the dual purpose of advertising Augustus' victory in the Civil Wars and his close association with Apollo. [5] Most commonly, the aromatic leaves are added whole to Italian pasta sauces. Prune lightly whenever needed. [13] It is also used in massage therapy and aromatherapy. We teach, learn, lead and serve, connecting people with the University of Wisconsin, and engaging with them in transforming lives and communities. This fast-growing tree has a root system that will tear up your yard in no time. In the Midwest, container-grown bay trees thrive in full sun (after being acclimated from the darker indoors) but in warmer climates they may benefit from light shade. I thought I would like to try growing a couple in pots in my zone, which is too cold for it to grow outside year around. [9] Together with a gold form, L. nobilis 'Aurea' [10] and a willow-leaved form L. nobilis f. angustifolia,[11] it has gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit. [8] Whole bay leaves have a long shelf life of about one year, under normal temperature and humidity. [14] A folk remedy for rashes caused by poison ivy, poison oak, and stinging nettle is a poultice soaked in boiled bay leaves. Bay laurel is used in cooking because of the high levels of volatile oils it contains. Through selective pruning of the lower limbs, this plant can be given more of a tree … The bay tree is a very ornamental plant[1] that is often cultivated for its leaves which are used as a food flavouring. ... Irrigation: Follow a regular watering schedule during the first growing season to establish a deep, extensive root system. This plant has few pests but scales can be a problem, particularly indoors. Planting Advice for Bay Laurel Trees. The fruit is small, black, shiny and has a 1 cm diameter. Again, the root system is the reason we avoid this tree. Sweet bay is also called laurel leaf and bay laurel. Sweet Bay, also called the Bay Laurel (Laurus nobilis), is an evergreen shrub whose leaves are often used as a flavorful herb in cooking. They’ve been known to ruin underground water lines and crack poured pavement. – Susan Mahr, University of Wisconsin – Madison. Laurus nobilis is a stunning plant and a popular choice for hedging, topiary or a specimen plant. An EEO/AA employer, University of Wisconsin-Madison Division of Extension provides equal opportunities in employment and programming, including Title VI, Title IX, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act requirements. These trees can have a 40-foot spread and a trunk diameter of 36 inches. The Bay Tree goes by many common names including, sweet bay, bay tree, true laurel, Grevian Laurel, laurel tree or simply laurel. This aromatic evergreen tree, or large shrub, with glossy green leaves is known as sweet bay, bay laurel, bay tree and simply laurel to name a few. hi Blue Onion. However, this evergreen tree is a native to the Mediterranean area. Green, White or Yellow. The plants are dioecious, with star-shaped male and female flowers on separate plants. [8], Laurus nobilis is widely cultivated as an ornamental plant in regions with Mediterranean or oceanic climates, and as a house plant or greenhouse plant in colder regions. This flavor is reminiscent of oregano or thyme, but a bit more floral. The bay tree is a very ornamental plant[1] that is often cultivated for its leaves which are used as a food flavouring. However, now there are many other trees around the world that go by the name bay leaf or laurel due to similar foliage. Laurel definition is - an evergreen shrub or tree (Laurus nobilis of the family Lauraceae, the laurel family) of southern Europe with small yellow flowers, fruits that are ovoid blackish berries, and evergreen foliage once used by the ancient Greeks to crown victors in the Pythian games —called also bay, sweet bay.