Find out how to grow your own bay leaf plant to add just-picked leaves to your favorite recipes.
Its also a traditional ingredient in bouquet garni.
Not all chefs agree that bay leaves add a depth of flavor to dishes.
Credit:Dean Schoeppner
Typically, the leaves are discarded before serving.
Where to Plant a Bay Leaf Plant
Bay leaf needs plenty of sun to flourish.
When planting it outdoors, choose a location with sunlight and space to grow.
Credit:Dean Schoeppner
These plants take up a lot of room, so dont crowd them with other plants.
Bay leaf is hardy in USDA Zones 810.
How and When to Plant Bay Leaf
Bay leaf trees and shrubs grow in humid climates.
Credit: Jerry Pavia
Plant them in the spring or early summer when thechance of frost has passed.
Bay leaf trees can be grown directly in the soil or containers.
Use a clay or wood container with drainage holes for an indoor plant.
Credit:Dana Gallagher
Bay Leaf Plant Care Tips
Bay leaf plants are easy to grow and rewarding.
They thrive when their basic needs are met.
Light
Grow a bay leaf shrub or tree in an area that receivesfull sun.
Ideally, it should receive at least six hours of sunlight daily.
Soil and Water
Bay leaf plants needwell-draining soilto thrive.
When growing this plant indoors year-round, use a well-draining potting mix.
Water a bay leaf plant regularly so the soil stays moist but never wet.
These plants are prone toroot rotif the soil stays waterlogged for long periods.
Let the topsoil dry out slightly before watering again.
Temperature and Humidity
Bay leaf plants grow best between 60F and 70F, and they enjoy humidity.
Another option is to add a plant humidifier to your home.
Fertilizer
Bay leaf plants dont usually need fertilizer when grown outdoors in soil.
However, if youre growing this plant in a container, add an organic, balanced fertilizer in spring.
Pruning
Pruning a bay leaf plant helps maintain its size and shape and promotes new growth.
Prune in the winter to early spring when the plant isnt actively growing.
A 2-foot-tall pot can support a bay leaf plant that reaches 5 to 6 feet tall.
Typically, you better repot them every five years or so.
When bay leaf grows indoors,monitor the plants for mealybugsandspider mites.
If you detect them, treat the leaves with insecticidal soap orneem oil.
Youll need hand pruners, containers, rooting hormone, sand, and plastic coverings.
Roots typically develop after a month or two.
Gently pick them or use shears to snip the leaves off the stem.
This bay leaf plant grows slowly to 30 feet tall and enjoys full sun and part shade.
It has rounded, light green leaves and is an excellent variety for use in the kitchen.
Rosemary grows as a perennial evergreen shrub in Zones 8-10 and as an annual in cooler zones.
Like most bay leaf plants, it enjoys full sun.
It quickly grows to 3 feet tall.
Beans
Dana Gallagher
Growing bay leaf plants alongsidebeansis thought to increase the beans flavor and improve growth.
Both plants grow well in full sun and well-draining soil.
Frequently Asked Questions
No, not if you are only interested in harvesting the leaves.
Bay leaf plants are male or female, and both are needed to produce berries.
A single bay leaf plant in the garden or a container produces leaves but no berries.
This slow grower is long-lived.
Bay leaf plants are known to live up to 50 years.
California bay laurelis similar, but it belongs to a different genus.
It has fragrant leaves but is not the source of the bay leaves used in cooking.
However, it makes an excellent landscape plant.
It is best to toss them because the flavor will be substantially reduced on a second use.
For optimal flavor, use bay leaves only a single time.
Bay leaves are more flavorful when dried than when fresh.
University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources.
Why Cook with Bay Leaves?
International Journal of Gastronomy and Food Science.
