Laurus nobilis
Common name: 
Bay Laurel
Sweet Bay
Grecian Laurel
True Laurel
Pronunciation: 
LA-rus NO-bil-is
Family: 
Lauraceae
Genus: 
Laurus
Type: 
Broadleaf
Native to (or naturalized in) Oregon: 
No
  • Broadleaf evergreen shrub, grows slowly to 12-40(60) ft (4-12(18) m) tall, multi-stemmed, broad-based with a gradually tapering cone.  Leaves simple, alternate, leathery, aromatic (the bay leaf used in cooking), narrowly elliptic to ovate, 5-10 cm long and 2.0-4.5 cm wide, margin often undulate, glossy dark green above, glabrous below.  Dioecious - male and female plants.  Flowers small, yellow-green, in clusters.  Fruit about 1.2 cm, ovoid, shiny black.
  • Full sun or partial shade.  Soil adaptable, but requires good drainage.  Can be grown as a hedge, makes an excellent formal container plant.
  • Hardy to USDA Zone 8      Native to the Mediterranean region
  • Laurus: Latin name for this species.    nobilis: notable.
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  • plant habit

    plant habit

  • leafy shoots

    leafy shoots

  • leaf

    leaf

  • leaves and flower buds

    leaves and flower buds

  • plant habit, flowering

    plant habit, flowering

  • leaves and flowers

    leaves and flowers

  • flower cluster and leaves

    flower cluster and leaves

  • flowers

    flowers