Laurus nobilis (Common Bay)

The familiar aromatic kitchen bay. This can be pruned into many exotic shapes. We tend to like the classic half standard.

Requires shelter in very cold areas, otherwise it's pretty unfussy. May be kept in a pot if regularly pruned. Please see out bossy notes about keeping plants in pots.

N.B. When clipping several plants with the same tool, have a bucket containing a 5% bleach solution and swish your blades around for 30 seconds between plants to sterilise them. This will help avoid the chance of cross contamination of disease.

As with all woody plants, plant high, exposing as much of the taper at the base of the trunk as possible. Allowing soil to accumulate round the base of a tree can be fatal. Keep very well watered when first planted.