Bay Laurel

Laurus nobilis

Nature Hills Nursery

Harvest Fresh Bay Leaves Year-Round from Your Own Culinary Laurel Tree
Heat Tolerant: Thrives in Zones 8-11 (Patio 4-11)
Deer Resistant, Disease Resistant
Showy Yellow Blooms in Late Spring
Great Choice for Privacy Screen or Hedge

$45⁶²

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Plant Size

#1 Container

Product variants

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Shipping Rates

Ships in 7-10 business days • Tracking provided • Weather protected

Under $50	$9.99
$50 - $99.99	$14.99
$100 - $149.99	$16.99
$150 - $198.99	$24.99
$199+	FREE

✓ Zone-specific timing • ✓ Professional packaging • ✓ Health guarantee

Understanding Our Container Sizes

At Nature Hills, our plants are sold in industry-standard nursery containers. You will notice we use the word "container" rather than "gallon." Container numbers follow a nursery trade size standard, not liquid volume. The number tells you the plant's size category and general maturity level. A larger container means a more established plant with a stronger root system.

Container Sizes

Quart

Plant age: 6 months to 1 year
Best for: Ground covers, perennials, ornamental grasses
What to expect: Our smallest and most affordable size. Well-suited for planting in multiples across a large area. Allow 1 to 2 seasons for full establishment.

#1 Container

Plant age: 1 to 2 years
Best for: Shrubs, perennials, smaller trees
What to expect: About the size of a large coffee can. A well-developed root system in a manageable size. Good value choice when you have time to let the plant grow into the space over a season or two.

#2 Container

Plant age: 2 to 3 years
Best for: Shrubs and trees where you want faster establishment
What to expect: A noticeable step up from a #1 in both plant size and root development. Good choice when you want visible presence without going to a larger size.

#3 Container

Plant age: 3 to 4 years
Best for: Most plants, most situations — flowering trees, shade trees, evergreen shrubs
What to expect: Our most popular size. Strong, developed root system. Plants in a #3 container make an immediate visual impact from day one. If you want a head start rather than waiting seasons for a plant to fill in, this is typically the right choice.

#5 Container and Larger

Plant age: 4 to 5+ years
Best for: Specimen plants, privacy screens, maximum instant impact
What to expect: Large, mature plants ready to make an immediate statement in your landscape. We also carry #7 and larger sizes for select varieties.

Why "Container" and Not "Gallon"?

Nursery container sizes follow an industry trade standard established for the nursery and horticulture industry. The number is a size designation, not a measurement of liquid volume. Actual soil volume varies by plant type, root mass, and growing medium. Using "container" is the accurate industry term. When you see #1, #2, or #3, think of it as the plant's size tier, not a gallon measurement.

Root Pouch Containers

Some Nature Hills plants arrive in a Root Pouch, a breathable fabric container made from 100% recycled materials. Root Pouches encourage denser root development through air pruning, which discourages root circling and promotes a stronger, more fibrous root ball at the time of planting.

Plants growing in Root Pouch fabric containers, showing the breathable woven fabric construction

There are two types. Knowing which one you have changes how you plant:

Degradable (brown or tan fabric): Plant the entire pouch directly in the ground. The fabric breaks down naturally in the soil over time.
Non-degradable (black or gray fabric): Remove the pouch before planting. Cut the bottom open with scissors, then peel the sides away. The fibrous root ball will hold its shape.

Not sure which type you have? Check the tag on your plant or contact us and we will confirm.

Full Root Pouch planting guide

Choosing the Right Size

Size	Plant Age	Best For
Quart	6 mo to 1 yr	Ground covers, perennials, grasses. Budget-friendly for mass plantings.
#1 Container	1 to 2 yrs	Shrubs, perennials, small trees. Value choice for patient gardeners.
#2 Container	2 to 3 yrs	Shrubs and trees where you want faster establishment.
#3 Container	3 to 4 yrs	Most plants. Immediate visual impact. Our most popular size.
#5 and larger	4+ yrs	Specimen plants, privacy screens, maximum instant impact.

Still not sure which size is right for your project? Our plant specialists are happy to help. Contact us and we will point you in the right direction.

Plant specifications
Plant Characteristics	Evergreen, Edible, Fragrant, Deer-resistant, Drought resistant, Heat Tolerant, Container Friendly
Hardiness Zone	8b, 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b
Sunlight	Full sun
Height	12-15 ft
Width	12-15 ft
Watering Needs	Moderate
Preferred Soil	Clay, Loamy, Peaty, Sandy
Growth Rate	Moderate
Growth Habit	Bushy, Upright
Blooms In	Spring
Flower Color	Yellow
Foliage Color	Green
Fragrant	Yes
Pet Safety	Toxic to pets
Suitable Space	Outdoors, Indoors, Container
Botanical Name	Laurus nobilis
Species	nobilis
Class	Magnoliopsida
Does Not Ship To	AK, HI, ID, MT, PR

Pretty Ornamental Edible Bay Laurel Tree

Beautiful Privacy Screen
Evergreen Shrub
Culinary Use for Aromatic Bay Leaf Laurels
Wonderful Patio Tree
Disease and Pest Resistant
Drought Tolerant

With its knockout, dark green leaves, the evergreen Bay Laurel (Laurus nobilis) makes an ideal patio container plant. For gardeners in Zones 8 - 11, you can plant it in the ground to use as an aromatic screening plant.

For millennia, people have enjoyed the fragrance and lovely look of this classic plant, with its aromatic leaves. After all, aromatic Laurel leaves were woven into circlets and worn by early Olympian champions to celebrate their victory.

Allow it to reach its full size, or easily hold it as a smaller accent plant by pruning for size.

Train it as a single or multi-trunk tree, this plant looks great when limbed up and used to increase the height of a "good neighbor" fence without giving up extra space in the yard. No matter how you use it, this evergreen plant gives you much-needed privacy year-round.

You'll love being able to pick and dry your own fresh Bay leaves for favorite recipes to add a wonderfully complex flavor while cooking. Simply use a slotted spoon to remove them before serving. Heavenly!

Include the dried leaves in homemade soap, potpourri or holiday garland. Create dried Bay wreathes for your kitchen. What a thoughtful gift for other chefs in your circle of family and friends.

Order today, you'd hate to miss out.

How to Use Bay Laurel Tree in the Landscape

Pest and disease resistant Bay Laurel is wonderful in an organic garden. There is nothing that adds the depth of flavor like dried Bay leaves. Grow Bay to harvest fresh leaves and dry them yourself.

This is a fabulous screening plant. A dense canopy of fragrant Bay leaves provides privacy and can block out unwanted views in a beautiful way.

The gorgeous, evergreen Bay Laurel makes a striking backdrop when grown in the ground. Or, use it in large Tuscan-style containers as a specimen or focal point.

For large patios, consider planting multiples of the same container to create a curved grouping behind your outdoor furniture. Also strategically place ones in containers to create privacy points on the patio. Or place one on either side of a doorway to announce to the world that a gourmet foodie lives here!

Live outside hardiness zones 8 - 11? Move your ornamental Bay Laurel containers inside for the winter.

#ProPlantTips for Care

Laurel plantings can be done in either full sun or partial shade. They are also adapted to a wide range of soils and climate.

This plant only requires good drainage to thrive. It’s best to give it fast draining soil. Mound up if you need to improve drainage by adding 18 – 24 inches of soil on top of your native soil. You’ll be planting your Bay Laurel in that mound.

Mulch over the root ball. Once established, the Bay Laurel is extremely drought tolerant and requires little in the way of extra care besides pruning.

Order today, these wonderful plants are in high demand.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Where can i buy a bay leaf tree?

Bay laurel trees (Laurus nobilis) are available at specialty nurseries and online retailers that carry culinary herbs and Mediterranean plants. These evergreen trees thrive in zones 8-11 when planted in the ground, or can be grown in containers in colder climates. Look for nurseries that specialize in edible landscaping or herb plants for the best selection.

Can I grow Bay Laurel in zone 4B or colder climates?

Bay Laurel is hardy in zones 8-11 and won't survive zone 4B winters outdoors. In colder climates, grow it in a large container and bring it indoors before first frost. Shop at Nature Hills for healthy specimens that adapt well to container growing.

How big does Bay Laurel get at maturity?

Bay Laurel can reach 10-20 feet tall and 8-12 feet wide at maturity when planted in the ground in Zones 8-11. However, it responds beautifully to pruning and can easily be maintained at any desired size. Keep it compact for containers or allow full growth for effective screening.

Can Bay Laurel be grown in containers or pots?

Yes, Bay Laurel thrives in containers and makes an ideal patio plant with its dark green evergreen foliage. It's particularly perfect for gardeners outside Zones 8-11 who can't plant it in-ground. Use large Tuscan-style pots and prune regularly to maintain your desired size.

Does Bay Laurel need fertilizer, and when?

Bay Laurel benefits from light fertilization during the growing season but doesn't require heavy feeding. In zones 8-11, apply a balanced fertilizer monthly from spring through early fall for container plants, or twice yearly for ground plantings. Feed less frequently once established, as this Mediterranean native thrives in lean soils available at naturehills.com.

What pot size is best for Bay Laurel, and when to repot?

Start with a 10-15 gallon container for Bay Laurel, as it needs room for its extensive root system. Large Tuscan-style pots work beautifully and allow the tree to develop properly. Repot every 2-3 years in spring, moving up one size when roots circle the bottom.