A plant of much renown and lore, bay leaves are an essential culinary herb with a long history. The Latin name, Laurus nobilis, means praise and nobility. Bay leaves are used either fresh or dry to flavor all kinds of savory recipes, from soups and stews to rice or meat dishes. Leaves are left whole to cook, but are not themselves eaten because they are stiff and sharp and can potentially cause damage to the mouth or throat if ingested. The leaves are said to repel pantry moths when placed in cupboards. In its native habitat, the slow-growing tree can reach heights of 40 feet or more, but here in the PNW it’s much smaller. It can easily be pruned into a bushy shrub, small tree, or even a topiary form. Can be a bit frost-tender (it will suffer if temperatures fall too far below freezing, and may die in more severe cold), and does not prefer soggy soils, but if precautions are taken against frost and soil is amended to promote good drainage, it’s a care-free plant. It’s also well suited to container culture since it is quite slow-growing and can live a long time in a pot. This is ideal if you have a very small garden, or if your climate is cold enough to where you’ll need to bring the plant inside for the winter. Evergreen in zones 8 and up. Full sun and very well-drained soil. Photo courtesy of Portland Nursery.
Bay Laurel Laurus nobilis
Description
A plant of much renown and lore, bay leaves are an essential culinary herb with a long history. The Latin name, Laurus nobilis, means praise and nobility. Bay leaves are used either fresh or dry to flavor all kinds of savory recipes, from soups and stews to rice or meat dishes. Leaves are left whole to cook, but are not themselves eaten because they are stiff and sharp and can potentially cause damage to the mouth or throat if ingested. The leaves are said to repel pantry moths when placed in cupboards. In its native habitat, the slow-growing tree can reach heights of 40 feet or more, but here in the PNW it’s much smaller. It can easily be pruned into a bushy shrub, small tree, or even a topiary form. Can be a bit frost-tender (it will suffer if temperatures fall too far below freezing, and may die in more severe cold), and does not prefer soggy soils, but if precautions are taken against frost and soil is amended to promote good drainage, it’s a care-free plant. It’s also well suited to container culture since it is quite slow-growing and can live a long time in a pot. This is ideal if you have a very small garden, or if your climate is cold enough to where you’ll need to bring the plant inside for the winter. Evergreen in zones 8 and up. Full sun and very well-drained soil. Photo courtesy of Portland Nursery.
