• LAURUS NOBILIS, CULINARY BAY LAUREL ( WELL ROOTED PLANT IN A 2 1/2 X 2 1/2 INCH POT) ZONE 8-10 SHRUB/TREE NATIVE TO THE SOUTHERN MEDITERRANEAN REGION - IT CAN REACH 60' IN HEIGHT IN ITS NATIVE RANGE, BUT GENERALLY IS MUCH SMALLER, 3-10' TALL.  THE LEAVES ARE ELLIPTIC, 3-4" LONG, RATHER THICK AND LEATHERY, AND SHINY DARK GREEN.  CLUSTERS OF SMALL YELLOW FLOWERS ARE PRODUCED IN SPRING, FOLLOWED, ON THE FEMALE PLANTS, BY SHINY BLACK OR PURPLE BERRIES ABOUT 1/2" LONG.
• BAY LAUREL GROWS BEST IN PARTIAL SHADE.  WATER WHEN DRY.  BAY LAUREL THRIVES WITH FREQUENT WATERING IN RICH, WELL DRAINED SOIL.  BAY LAUREL IS AN EXCELLENT SHRUB FOR HEDGES AND A FAVORITE FOR TOPIARY SCULPTURE BECAUSE IT RESPONDS VERY WELL TO PRUNING.  IT CAN BE TRAINED AS A STANDARD OR ALLOWED TO GROW AS A SPREADING SHRUB.
• IN COOLER REGIONS, GROW IN A CONTAINER AND BRING INDOORS IN WINTER.  THE POPULAR CULINARY SEASONING, BAY LEAF, IS USED EXTENSIVELY IN FRENCH, ITALIAN, SPANISH, AND CREOLE COOKING.  IT FLAVORS SOUPS, STEWS, SHELLFISH BOILS, PICKLING BRINES, SAUCES, MARINADES, AND POULTRY AND FISH DISHES.  PICK BAY LEAVES EARLY IN THE DAY AND DRY QUICKLY UNDER WEIGHT SO THEY WON'T CURL.  STORE IN AN AIR-TIGHT JAR. 
• THE LEAVES AND BERRIES OF BAY LAUREL CONTAIN THE ESSENTIAL OILS EUGENOL, CINEOL AND GERANIOL, WHICH ACCOUNT FOR THE DISTINCTIVE SPICY AROMA.  INFUSIONS ARE REPUTED TO SOOTHE THE STOMACH AND RELIEVE FLATULENCE.  AN OIL PRESSED FROM THE BERRIES WAS ONCE A POPULAR LINIMENT FOR ARTHRITIS AND SORE MUSCLES, AND STILL IS USED IN PERFUMES, CANDLES AND SOAPS. 

LAURUS NOBILIS, CULINARY BAY LAUREL ( WELL ROOTED PLANT IN A 2 1/2 X 2 1/2 INCH POT) ZONE 8-10 SHRUB/TREE NATIVE TO THE SOUTHERN MEDITERRANEAN REGION - IT CAN REACH 60' IN HEIGHT IN ITS NATIVE RANGE, BUT GENERALLY IS MUCH SMALLER, 3-10' TALL.  THE LEAVES ARE ELLIPTIC, 3-4" LONG, RATHER THICK AND LEATHERY, AND SHINY DARK GREEN.  CLUSTERS OF SMALL YELLOW FLOWERS ARE PRODUCED IN SPRING, FOLLOWED, ON THE FEMALE PLANTS, BY SHINY BLACK OR PURPLE BERRIES ABOUT 1/2" LONG.dogwooderitternet