Early Morning In Potager, Bay Laurel Tree Centerpiece
Everyone should have a Bay Laurel Tree in your garden, if you are in zones 5-9, and 12-24. There are as many uses for this tree and its green glossy aromatic leaves, as its many names. The names Bay/Sweet Bay/Laurel, Laurus nobilis are all the same tree. Sweet Bay is currently enjoying recognition as the 2009 Herb of the Year, as chosen by, The International Herb Association.
The Bay Laurel Tree is a Mediterranean evergreen shrub or tree. It is a slow grower but eventually can reach 12-40 feet in height. Fortunately, it responds well to trimming and can be shaped into a desirable topiary form. A few years ago in my potager, or kitchen garden I planted a Bay Laurel Tree in the center and as a focal point. I have shaped it into a sphere on top, and am presently shaping a smaller lower sphere closer to the ground. Bay Laurel trees take full sun or partial shade and appreciate moderate water.
Bay Laurel leaves are really desirable for decorative use in a wreath or crown, and as a culinary use in many types of recipes, and the well-known “bouquet garni”. It also has household, cosmetic, aromatic, and medicinal uses.
“Bouquet Garni” is a french term for a bouquet of fresh herbs, tied together with kitchen string, and generally allowed to dry before steeping in stews, soups, sauces, stock, marinades, and the like. Typically, fresh herbs are rolled together using parsley, thyme, and flanked by bay leaves.
Karen England, Edgehill Herb Farm, is a recognized herb expert, garden speaker, and teacher of herb-related cooking classes in the San Diego area. She spoke to The San Diego Horticulture Society this past summer on Bay Laurel, and in a hand-out shared these adapted instructions for creating a bay wreath.
Make Your Own Laurel Bay Wreath
Supplies Needed: Fresh bay branches, wreath form, paddle wire (available at craft stores), clippers, and optional ribbon.
Directions: With clippers, cut bay branches into lots of approximately of 3-4″ sprigs. Using the wire, attach securely the sprigs to the wreath form. How much bay you will need depends on the type and size of the form you have chosen. Hanging Tip: Dry the finished wreath flat on a table for a week or so before hanging. This will prevent your wreath from drooping and drying lopsided.
Use: These completed wreaths can be hung as a decoration in a room or on a door, used for culinary purposes dried, or even as a fresh “laurel crown” on your head, just in time for Halloween. You could also make a garland swag of Bay Laurel using a length of stiff straight wire.
Please note, all laurels except the Bay/Sweet Bay/Laurel are poisonous. Make sure you identify the correct Bay Laurel Tree.
Please add your thoughts on Bay Laurel? Do you have a tree in your garden? What are your favorite uses? Have you ever seen a freshly made verdant bay wreath?
{ 18 comments… read them below or add one }
I have a Bay Laurel Tree in my garden. It looks just like this. Everytime I look at this picture I think of home.
Paul, I think a bay laurel tree looks so neat in a garden. Thanks for sharing you have one, too….VintageGardenGal
It looks stunning.it beats looking at boring connifers everyday.a garden should have variety and colour.
Paul, I agree, and the bay laurel leaves are wonderful to dry and cook with, too. Thanks for your comment…VintageGardenGal
Oh what a beautiful garden makes me long for Spring
to come.
I love your web site so glad that I happened upon it : )
Thanks for your great comment, please tell your garden friends. Thanks for your wonderful comment…VintageGardenGal
It’s quite ironic.this was the first type of tree that we sold in our garden centre in Durham as a laurel shrub.I can’t remember the price as it was 40 years ago but they are just as popular today as they were then.just as stunning looking garden shrub also
Paul, Bay Laurel trees are so beautiful and can be used in so many ways. Thanks for your great comment…VintageGardenGal
Can you start a Bay Laurel from a cutting? I know were there are a number of Bay Laurels and thought about trying to grow one from a cutting if it is possible.
Marti, yes you can propagate a Bay Laurel from a cutting. It is slow going though. Best to try cuttings in the fall, about 6 inches long, and a bit of the main trunk with it. Propagation when in heated environment is better. Search the internet for more detailed info. You can also use seeds, and “laying down method”. I have never tried propagating Bay Laurel myself. Good luck…VintageGardenGal
Hi,
I have What I think might be a bay leaf tree. Do Bay leaf trees have straight thorns on the stems?
Thanks
Steve
Steve, I seem to recall being surprised by a thorn or two on one bay laurel. There are not a lot of thorns, usually…….VintageGardenGal
Thank you Bonnie! Is there any way I can “for sure” ID this tree as being an edible Bay?
Steve, take a branch with leaves to a reliable nursery for identification, or farm bureau extension. I did a little research, and didn’t see anything on bay laurel having thorns. So I would be very cautious. I think I occasionally come across thorns on mine. I would be very cautious…VintageGardenGal
Thanks again Bonnie! I think I have positive ID on the tree, an Osage Orange. My Mother got this tree 20 or so years ago sold to her as a bay leave tree. I noticed today that there is a straight thorn on the stem at every point a leaf is on the branch and a strong orange smell when you fold the leaves up.
Thanks once again!
Steve
Very good, it pays to do your homework…VintageGardenGal
What size Bay Laurel would be good to start with? I’ve only seen them in little 4″ pots at the nursery….would take that a long time to be noticed if they’re slow growing!
I would love to have one in the center of my herb garden, but would like to get one that can be seen right from the start! Would it be a good idea to plant one there since my garden is in all-day sun and is exposed to lots of wind in spring and early summer?
Thanks!
Sher, I have a bay laurel tree as a focal point in the middle of my vegetable garden. Yes, a bay laurel would work well for you in your herb garden. Try looking for a 1-gallon or 5-gallon size. I agree, a 4″ pot would be more suitable for a table-top size. Thanks for sharing….VintageGardenGal