One of the most popular plants for boxes or planters is the Bay Laurel. It can be grown in so many forms and trimmed into different shapes, and it has handsome evergreen leaves that bring a touch of class. It’s association with palaces and grand homes helps make it a symbol of quality and good-taste – and it tastes good too. Bay leaves are a classic ingredient in French cooking and other Mediterranean cuisines. Yes, you can use dried, but how much better to have it right outside the door, and snatch a fresh leaf when you need one for that sauce? Now that is classy cooking. We thought that a ball of leaves on the top of a sturdy trunk would be the perfect way to grow it, so we asked our skilled nurserymen to create beautiful patio trees for us. They did a spectacular job. These trees have a short trunk about 18 inches long (staked for security until it thickens more) and the growers carefully clipped the top growth into a compact, bushy ball. They look so good in a square tub, or a decorative Tuscan terracotta pot – or honesty, in any planter at all. You will love the Bay Laurel Patio Tree – it’s a great gift for the holidays or any happy time.

Growing the Bay Laurel Patio Tree

Size and Appearance

The Bay Laurel Patio Tree is a ball of dense branches, topping a straight stem. It is about 4 feet tall, and as it grows you can enlarge the top as much as you want, and even turn it into a cone, box-shape or fancier form with careful trimming. The stem will thicken into a study trunk in a few years, and this tough plant will have a long life, developing a wonderful air of maturity. The leaves are deep green, with a slightly glossy surface, and they are neat ovals, between 2 and 5 inches long. The edges are smooth, and they sometimes have an attractive wavy undulation along them. They have a rich aroma, and they are widely used in the kitchen for flavoring many kinds of dishes. On older trees you might see small yellow flowers clustered along the stems, possibly followed by small purple-black berries (these are not the aromatic ‘bay berries’ used at Christmas).

Using the Bay Laurel Patio Tree in Your Garden

This tree is absolutely perfect for growing in a handsome pot on a patio, terrace or balcony, beside a path, or on either side of your front door – a real touch of class. It will grow for many years in a container, with no particular problems. It can also be planted in the ground as an accent plant in an herb garden, or in any small bed where you want height without a lot of width. Consider adding the Tuscan Blue Rosemary Patio Tree too, for another great plant for the kitchen and garden.

Hardiness

The Bay Laurel Patio Tree is hardy outdoors all year round in zones 8, 9 and 10. If you live in a colder zone you can bring it inside when the night temperatures fall below 20 degrees F. It can spend the winter in a cold porch or sunroom, or in a cold room in the house too. If you use a plastic pot inside your decorative box or pot, it is easier to bring it in for cold protection.

Sun Exposure and Soil Conditions

Full sun or partial shade – the Bay Laurel Patio Tree is happy in both. It will grow in the ground in most soils, as long as they are well-drained. Established trees have some drought tolerance, but don’t let plants in pots dry out completely. Use a pot with drainage holes, and blended potting soil for outdoor planters, which is a coarser mixture. Add fresh soil to the top of the pot in spring as needed.

Maintenance and Pruning

Water potted trees regularly, once the top inch has dried. Use a liquid fertilizer for evergreens once a month during spring and summer. Pests and diseases are rare, and easily controlled with soap or neem oil spray. Trim with pruners rather than shears, to avoid cutting through leaves, and you can trim your tree as you want, although early spring is best, before the new growth appears. New stems can be shortened to keep the plant bushy and well-shaped.

History and Origin of the Bay Laurel Patio Tree

The Bay Laurel, Laurus nobilis, has a long history, both in the wild and in European culture. Once, tens of thousands of years ago, the area around the Mediterranean had more rainfall. Then the land was covered with forests of laurel trees, and the existing trees today are remnants of that forest, scattered all the way from Portugal to Turkey. The tree was sacred to both the ancient Greeks and the Romans. To Greeks it was a symbol of the God Apollo and woven into wreaths to place on winners of Games as the highest honor. It was a symbol of immortality. The Romans kept the same symbolisms and associated it with many of their Emperors.

Bay leaves are widely used for flavoring sauces of many kinds or laid over food in the oven to flavor it. Dried, powdered leaves are often added to a Bloody Mary, and you can stir in a couple of fresh leaves instead. Leaves removed by trimming can be dried and stored for a year or more.

Buying the Bay Laurel Patio Tree at The Tree Center

We love the classy Bay Laurel Patio Tree – it really adds a certain something to the look of your patio or terrace – as well as being very useful in the kitchen. For yourself, a family member or a friend who loves to garden, it makes a very special gift that will give pleasure for many years. Leave a lasting memory from the holidays, on birthdays or anniversaries – give a Bay Laurel Patio Tree. Order now – life is short and so is our supply – these popular trees sell out fast.