Bay Leaf

The scientific name for bay leaf is Laurus nobilis (Lauraceae). The tree that bears bay leaves is called the laurel tree. Bay leaves are famous for their special flavor. They are used worldwide in various kinds of culinary applications. They have a different fragrance of their own. Bay leaves are used a lot in Mediterranean cooking. Food items like stew, soups, and pates are all flavored with mild bay leaves. Bay leaves develop full flavor if they are completely dried up and that too only several weeks later.

Bay laurel Quick Facts

Common name	Bay laurel
Scientific name	Laurus nobilis
Kingdom	Plantae
Phylum	Tracheophyta
Class	Magnoliopsida
Order	Laurales
Family	Lauraceae
Genus	Laurus
Conservation status	Least Concern
Type	Evergreen tree grown for its flavourful leaves
Habitat	Scrub and woodland; warm climates
Native range	Asia Minor and the Mediterranean
Size	Leaves about 10 cm long, 5 cm wide
Height	Up to 12 m (40 ft)
Special feature	Leaf flavour is best weeks after drying

History

Bay laurel is native to Asia Minor. Later they spread to parts of Mediterranean because the climate there were suitable for them grow well. The bay laurel trees were cultivated since long back in history. Bay leaves do not grow in cold climatic conditions. They are cultivated in turkey in a larger scale and exported to various parts of the world in a large volume. They are also grown in area like Italy, Russia, North America, and Belgium. Countries like Greece. Rome has symbolic and literal importance towards bay leaves. It is considered as a tree of honor by the Greeks and Romans who believed that it was central to many ancient mythologies. In Europe and North America bay leaf is considered to be most widely used culinary herb.

Anatomy

We can see bay leaves in abundance in many parts of Europe and America. They are found widely in scrubs and woods of this region. The Europeans, Americans and the Arab countries cultivate them in a wide range. Indians also use them, but they don’t cultivate it commercially. The Laurel tree goes up to about 12 m tall and they are evergreen plants. You can see them green, although the year. When the leaf gets matured, they are 10 cm long, and their width would be 5 cm wide.

Habitat

Bay leaf is most often found growing in the scrub lands of California and Europe. The Arab Countries, America and Europe cultivate this crop heavily, but in India it grows naturally. The laurel tree is very commonly found in the areas where the climate is warm. Even though bay leaves are natives of Asia Minor they are abundantly seen in Mediterranean regions. These bay leaves are also referred to as Mediterranean bay leaves.

Soil

Laurel bay leaf can thrive in any kind of soil; they don’t need very fertile soil to grow. They just need to be watered regularly and they will grow nicely. They grow best in soils that are always moist and well drained. The tree can also grow healthy even if the soil is dry.

Planting

There are many plants called bay or laurel, but not all of them are safe to eat. The usual culinary bay leaf comes from Laurus nobilis (bay laurel), while look-alikes such as cherry laurel and mountain laurel are poisonous. When you decide to grow a bay leaf plant, make sure you buy only the above stated variety. Only organically grown plant should be bought. The USDA plant hardiness zone 8-11 is the only good bay leaf plant that can be grown outdoors. The tree cannot grow in freezing climates or where the climate is too cool. A very well drained soil with a pH of 4.5 to 8.3 is needed for them thrive healthy. A good deal of sunlight is needed for them to grow well. They can also grow in partial shade. When you decide to grow a bay leaf plant, first dig a big hole. The depth of the hole should be just the same as the depth of the pot they are in. Now place the plant in the hole slowly removing them from the container. Never break the root of the Laurus plant.

Care

The maximum height that a bay leaf tree can grow is up to 40 feet. Pruning is the best way by which you can restrict the growth of the plant. The growth can be controlled horizontally and vertically. Pruning can be done once in a while. It is not necessary that you prune them regularly. If you prune them once in a year, it is fine. This is in case of outdoor plants, but if you are growing them indoor the pruning and the growth pattern changes.

Indoors

While you decide to grow the Laurus leaf plant indoors, trimming can be minimized. When you feel like giving a shape to the plant, trim or prune it. When you put a plant indoors, it should not grow very tall. At indoor the plant should grow bushy and dense. Trim the plant in such a way that they look very fleshy and dense.

Related: Indoor Herb Garden

Bay laurel FAQs