Sweet Bay Laurel (Laurus nobilis)
Sweet Bay Laurel (Laurus nobilis), Tender, slow growing, evergreen shrub Description: Aromatic, deep glossy green foliage used in cooking Habit: Can reach 40 feet out of doors, often with suckers at the base, but easily kept in a container for many years Culture: Prefers rich loam with abundant moisture and light; avoid direct, midday sun, especially in southern regions Hardiness: USDA Zones 8 through 10 Attributes: Fragrant foliage, Edible, Evergreen This handsome Mediterranean species is the true laurel of antiquity into which the nymph Daphne was transformed; and, afterward, Apollo made into a sacred tree. A garland of Sweet Bay branches, worn by conquerors and poets, symbolized triumph and prophesy. Its cultivation in Europe and Britain dates to the early 1500's and it maintained its association with ancient Roman superstition and mystery well into the seventeenth century. The aromatic leaves are used also in cooking and yield an essential oil used in perfumery and medicine. Philadelphia nurseryman Bernard McMahon included Sweet Bay in a lengthy list of "Green-house Trees and Shrubs" for the appendix of The American Gardener's Calendar, 1806. The young sweet bay laurel tree is approximately 6-12" tall. Sweet Bay Laurel (Laurus nobilis) arrives in a 1 quart pot.