How many plants for average family:
1 plant per family

Type of plant:
Evergreen tree

Best Varieties:

Sowing:
Take cuttings in summer and autumn.
May take over 8 months before plants are big enough to plant out in the garden.

Growing Habit:
Large tree to about 10m (30ft).
Smooth grey trunk and dense foliage canopy.
Often grown in pots to contain the overall size.

Growing Conditions:
Hot and dry conditions of it's mediterranean origins are best for the bay laurel. Keep it in a pot and move into sunny position during winter.

Plant into rich soil and fertilise yearly in spring with blood and bone and compost or manure.

Companions:

Problems:
Frost sensitive.
Scale can attack young leaves. Secretions of honeydew can bring residue of grey sooty mould.

Uses:
Wreaths are made of laurel and worn by athletes at olympic games.

Decorative plant for topiary in the garden, traditionally clipped into a ball shape.

Used primarily for cooking and flavouring stews and casseroles.

For more information:

Bay Herb - Uses and how to grow - Herbs Section
... Bay Herb > Herbs Section ... History: Bay was the laurel used in the wreaths with which the ancient Romans and Greeks crowned their athletes and ...
http://www.greenchronicle.com/gardening/bay_herb.htm
ing.smartbargains.com/storage-and-organizat...rb-jars-with-rack-show.sb

Herb Database + Images - Bay
Medicinal and other uses of bay. ... No claims are made for the efficacy of any herb nor for any historical herbal treatment ... LAUREL USED IN COOKING. California bay (Umbellularia californica) is often substituted ...
http://earthnotes.tripod.com/bay.htm

Bay Leaves - BBQ Herb
Bay Leaves - an ideal herb for use with the Barbecue ... Did you know? The bay tree grows wild and the leaves ... Good quality Bay Leaves should be large and whole with clean ... Use 2-3 Bay Leaves for 4 servings ...
http://www.bbqshop.co.uk/bbq_herbs_spices/bay_leaves.htm

Bay (Laurus nobilis)
The Herb Guide features articles and information on growing and using herbs. ... GUIDE SHEETS : Herbs Agrimony Aloe Angelica Basil Bay Bergamot Borage Buchu Caraway Catnip Cayenne Chamomile Chervil ... Shop for Herb Seeds. Bay leaves are among the most versatile ...
http://www.gardenguides.com/herbs/bay.htm

botanical.com - A Modern Herbal | Laurel (Bay) - Herb Profile and Information
Providing botanical, folk-lore and herbal information, plus organic herbs, and herbal products. ... Sweet Bay. (Laurus nobilis LINN.) ... Purchase this Herb from Botanical.com ...
http://www.botanical.com/botanical/mgmh/l/larbay10.html

Desirable Herb Varieties: Bay
Vegetables For A Cool Zone 6 Vegetable Garden. ... The important herb "bay leaf" is the leaf of an evergreen tree of the laurel family ... quantities for drying; unlike most herb leaves, bay leaf dries to an effective spice ...
http://growingtaste.com/herbs/bay.shtml