Laurus nobilis 10.5cm

Laurus nobilis (Bay Tree / Bay Laurel)

A classic, versatile evergreen shrub or small tree, prized as much for the kitchen as for the garden. The dark green, leathery, aromatic leaves are a familiar culinary herb, used fresh or dried to flavour soups, stews and slow-cooked dishes, while small yellow flowers appear in spring, followed on female plants by black berries (ornamental only, not for eating). Kept neatly clipped, bay makes striking formal shapes — balls, pyramids, or standards — perfect either side of an entrance or on a patio.

Left unclipped, bay can eventually reach up to 7.5 metres or more, though regular trimming keeps it to whatever size and shape suits your space, from a compact container specimen to a substantial topiary piece. Grow in full sun or partial shade in well-drained soil; it does very well in pots, especially in a sheltered spot with regular watering. Mature plants tolerate hard pruning if needed, but recover slowly, so it's best carried out gradually over two or three seasons.

Each plant is hand-selected before dispatch