Bay Laurel has become hugely popular here and with good reason, it's wonderfully versatile and is more than happy to put up with our weather challenges. Here I will delve into a little bit about where it is from, where you can plant it and some of its many uses.
Bay Laurel originally comes from the Mediterranean where it is steeped in history. The whole Mediterranean area was covered in forests of it. In Greece the Bay was thought to be the sacred tree of Apollo and wearing a crown of it symbolised victory, glory and honour, this is what Julius Caesar is depicted as wearing which is not to be confused with the Olympic crown which is nearly always Olive branches. The people of the Mediterranean also used it as roof timbers for a short time with the thought being that it would invite luck into the household while, more practically, keeping pests such as fleas and mites from living up there.
It is first documented as being in Ireland in 1592 so although not a true native to here it is considered being here long enough that it is fully naturalised which is surely why it puts up so well with our cold and gloomy winters!
Uses
Hedging - Bay makes excellent hedging, when planted directly into the ground it can withstand temperatures below -5 and will tolerate fairly windy areas. It's also evergreen which makes it a great choice for privacy. Although not as quick growing as the likes of Griselinia (8-24" growth in a season) it will grow around 6 to 12 inches given the right conditions.
Ornamental - Bay Laurel is often shaped into cones or cubes and put in pots as entrance plants or simply as a centerpiece for a garden. They make a good choice over the likes of Buxus as the trimming to keep their shape is less taxing. Often they will just need a few apex branches pruned off as opposed to having to get a hedge cutter or a clippers out.
They make great balcony plants and will tend to only grow to the size of the pot they're placed in. When in pots they can get down to around -5 and not be phased so again a great choice for patios and smaller areas.
Once you have your Bay growing there are multiple uses for the actual leaves. The oil in the leaf has been shown to be antimicrobial and reduce inflammation so it is a popular ingredient in candles and massage oils.
Anyone that spends time in the kitchen will tell you that Bay leaf is an essential ingredient when it comes to stews, pasta dishes, stocks and soups. There are few things more satisfying than plucking a few leaves off your hedge to go cook with them!!
Insects such as flies, ants, mites and moths hate the smell of Bay leaf. Fresh or dried Bay can be placed around windows and doors to deter them from coming in the house. If you place a fresh sprig in your wardrobe it will keep the clothes moths away too. If you don't like the thought of leaves being in your wardrobe you can simply put a few drops of the essential oil on a tissue and put that in instead for the same effect.
So with its many uses, beautiful scent and the benefit of not sweeping its fallen leaves every year I can't think of any reason not to plant a bay, whether you have a big garden or a small balcony there will be one that will suit your needs I have no doubt.
