Herb · Lauraceae family

Bay laurel

Laurus nobilis

Full sun to part shade 2.4–3 m × 1.5–3 m Flowers March–May Harvest January–December to −12 °C
Flower colours Click a colour

In short a 10-second read

SunFull sun to part shade
Size2.4–3 m
spacing 1 m
FlowersMarch–May
PlantingApril–September
WinterCover with horticultural fleece

Where to plant and how much to water

Sun, soil and water.

It grows best in full sun to part shade, in average soil.

Sun

Sun6 hours or more
Part shade3–6 hours
Shadeunder 3 h

Soil

tolerates any pH
acidicneutralalkaline
averagenot fussy about soil

Watering

do not waterlogless when it rains

Frost

−12 °C
cover with horticultural fleecebring indoors for winter

How much space it takes

Mature size.

The mature plant next to a person (175 cm).

1 m2 m3 m2.4–3 mspread 1.5–3 m
2.4–3 m× spread 1.5–3 m

Plant 1 m apart.

How to plant: singly

Reaches maturity in about 20–50 years. The final size depends on the cultivar and the spot — we give the range from smallest to largest.

Calendar

Through the year.

Months for Central Europe. The line shows the current month.

The year at a glance

Flowers: JanuaryFlowers: FebruaryFlowers: MarchFlowers: AprilFlowers: MayFlowers: JuneFlowers: JulyFlowers: AugustFlowers: SeptemberFlowers: OctoberFlowers: NovemberFlowers: DecemberPlanting: JanuaryPlanting: FebruaryPlanting: MarchPlanting: AprilPlanting: MayPlanting: JunePlanting: JulyPlanting: AugustPlanting: SeptemberPlanting: OctoberPlanting: NovemberPlanting: DecemberFeeding: JanuaryFeeding: FebruaryFeeding: MarchFeeding: AprilFeeding: MayFeeding: JuneFeeding: JulyFeeding: AugustFeeding: SeptemberFeeding: OctoberFeeding: NovemberFeeding: DecemberHarvest: JanuaryHarvest: FebruaryHarvest: MarchHarvest: AprilHarvest: MayHarvest: JuneHarvest: JulyHarvest: AugustHarvest: SeptemberHarvest: OctoberHarvest: NovemberHarvest: DecemberJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
FlowersPlantingFeedingHarvest
Now, in October: time to harvest.
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

Flowers

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

March–May · yellow or green

Planting

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

container plant: April–September

Feeding

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

April–August

Harvest

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

January–December

Feeding

Nutrition.

Moderate
balanced fertiliser
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

Pests and diseases

Common problems and what to do.

The most common problems in Central Europe. Protection is listed from the gentlest option.

What you will see

Waxy scales on stems and leaves, sooty mould on honeydew.

How to protect

  1. Prevention
    • Healthy plants tolerate low numbers of scale insects.
  2. By handRemove adult scale insects and egg masses when visible.
  3. BiologicalSteinernema feltiae nematode against soft scales (use with care, it may also affect other animals); encourage ladybirds and parasitic wasps.
Scale insectspest

What you will see

Waxy scales on stems and leaves, sooty mould on honeydew.

How to protect

  1. Prevention
    • Healthy plants tolerate low numbers of scale insects.
  2. By handRemove adult scale insects and egg masses when visible.
  3. BiologicalSteinernema feltiae nematode against soft scales (use with care, it may also affect other animals); encourage ladybirds and parasitic wasps.
More about this problem

What you will see

White powdery coating on leaves, stems and flowers.

When to look

From spring, especially later in the season

How to protect

  1. Prevention
    • Water regularly and do not let plants suffer from drought; mulch (leave the area by the stem clear).
    • Improve airflow around plants.
    • Grow varieties with partial resistance, if available.
  2. By hand as soon as it appearsRemove affected leaves early; dispose of fallen affected leaves in autumn.
Powdery mildewsdisease · from spring, especially later in the season

What you will see

White powdery coating on leaves, stems and flowers.

When to look

From spring, especially later in the season

How to protect

  1. Prevention
    • Water regularly and do not let plants suffer from drought; mulch (leave the area by the stem clear).
    • Improve airflow around plants.
    • Grow varieties with partial resistance, if available.
  2. By hand as soon as it appearsRemove affected leaves early; dispose of fallen affected leaves in autumn.
More about this problem

What you will see

Brown to black spots on leaves; leaves turn yellow early.

How to protect

  1. Prevention
    • Remove old leaves before they infect the new season.
    • Do not wet the leaves when watering; keep the plant unstressed.
  2. By hand after the first spots; in autumnRemove affected leaves at once and destroy them; collect fallen leaves in autumn.
Leaf spotsdisease

What you will see

Brown to black spots on leaves; leaves turn yellow early.

How to protect

  1. Prevention
    • Remove old leaves before they infect the new season.
    • Do not wet the leaves when watering; keep the plant unstressed.
  2. By hand after the first spots; in autumnRemove affected leaves at once and destroy them; collect fallen leaves in autumn.
More about this problem

What you will see

Rotting roots, white mycelium under the bark, black bootlaces (rhizomorphs) in the soil, sudden death; mushrooms in autumn.

When to look

Summer – autumn

How to protect

  1. Prevention
    • Choose species that honey fungus rarely attacks (e.g. Vaccinium).
  2. By handA deep barrier (45 cm) of rubber sheeting in the soil blocks the bootlaces; regular deep cultivation breaks them.
Honey fungusdisease · summer – autumn

What you will see

Rotting roots, white mycelium under the bark, black bootlaces (rhizomorphs) in the soil, sudden death; mushrooms in autumn.

When to look

Summer – autumn

How to protect

  1. Prevention
    • Choose species that honey fungus rarely attacks (e.g. Vaccinium).
  2. By handA deep barrier (45 cm) of rubber sheeting in the soil blocks the bootlaces; regular deep cultivation breaks them.
More about this problem
Sources (5)

Frequently asked

Quick answers.

When does bay laurel flower?

In March–May; the flowers are yellow or green.

When is bay laurel harvested?

In January–December.

Does bay laurel tolerate shade?

It tolerates part shade (3–6 hours of sun), but not full shade.

How much space does bay laurel need?

At maturity 1.5–3 m wide and 2.4–3 m tall; recommended spacing 1 m.

Scale insects — what can you do?

Healthy plants tolerate low numbers of scale insects. Remove adult scale insects and egg masses when visible.

Powdery mildews — what can you do?

Water regularly and do not let plants suffer from drought; mulch (leave the area by the stem clear). Remove affected leaves early; dispose of fallen affected leaves in autumn.

Sources (8) Checked 24 October 2026

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