Bay Tree

This is the sweet bay tree - Laurus nobilis which produces savoury leaves for cooking. It is normally grown outside, but young trees are quite happy indoors in winter and are very easy to care for.

If inside make sure your plant gets plenty of daylight, by putting it near a window. A cool room or a light porch is best, and it will be happiest away from any radiators. If you have a garden or a patio then your bay will appreciate spending the summer outside.

When in a small pot, young bays will need some watering, especially if your room is centrally heated.

Bay trees are quite slow growing but if allowed to they will grow to full size trees in about 30 years. To encourage healthy growth repot your bay tree about once a year in the spring time. To keep their shape you may also want to give them a haircut at the beginning and end of the growing season.

Bay trees are very tough trees that require little maintenance. New shoots are a different colour - in the spring and summer your plant should begin to put on new leaves, don't worry if they are a lighter colour than the existing leaves, they will colour up over a few weeks. New shoots are drooping - new shoots are more tender than established branches and may droop if exposed to hot or cold temperatures, ensure they are fully watered and try to keep in an even frost free temperature until the young leaves have matured and changed colour. Crisp or brown leaves - are the result of underwatering, give your plant a good soak and it will start to recover.

Bay leaves add a wonderful savoury flavour to soups, stews and meat dishes - put the washed leaves in the dish whole, but remove before serving.