How to grow Bay Laurel in Australia
Bay laurel (Laurus nobilis) is the Mediterranean evergreen whose leaves flavour soups, stews and stocks. It is slow growing, tough once established and happy to be clipped, so it suits a large pot, a hedge or a formal topiary shape as well as a tree in the garden. A single plant supplies a household for decades.
📖 Our full guide: How to Grow Bay Laurel in Australia
At a glance
When to plant by region
| Region | When to plant | Regional note |
|---|---|---|
| South East Queensland | September to April | |
| Northern Rivers NSW | September to April | |
| Sydney & Coastal NSW | September to April | |
| Melbourne & Victoria | October to December | Frost tolerant tree. Sow or plant from October to December. Young plants need protection, but mature trees are hardy. |
| Adelaide & SA | March and April, September and October | Plant Mar to Apr or Sep to Oct. Bay is a Mediterranean native and very tough once established; it also does well in a large pot. |
| Perth & WA | March and April, September and October | Plant Mar to Apr or Sep to Oct. Bay is a Mediterranean native and very tough once established; it also does well in a large pot. |
| Tasmania | September to November | Plant Sep to Nov. Slow but hardy once established. Shelter young trees from hard frost. |
| Canberra & ACT | September to April | Bay Laurel is cold-hardy perennial; plant autumn; benefits from winter chill; produces year-round in Canberra. |
| North Queensland | September to April | Year-round Sep to Apr main window. Bay laurel (perennial) tolerates tropical conditions. |
| Darwin & Top End | September to April | Year-round Sep to Apr main window. Bay laurel (perennial) tolerates tropical conditions. |
Not to be confused with: Cherry laurel (Prunus laurocerasus), a hedging plant with similar glossy leaves that is poisonous. Only use leaves from a plant you know is true bay, Laurus nobilis.
Where to plant
Plant bay in full sun or part shade, in well-drained soil. It tolerates dry spells and coastal conditions once established, but not soggy ground, which damages the roots. Shelter it from hot, drying wind while young.
Bay is hardy to about minus 5°C, and established plants in the ground cope with a little more in a sheltered spot. Young plants and pots need protection from hard frost.
- Adelaide and Perth: plant in March and April or September and October. Bay is at home in a Mediterranean climate.
- Melbourne: plant from October to December, protecting young plants from frost.
- Hobart: plant from September to November in a sheltered spot. Canberra: plant in autumn or spring and shelter young plants from hard frost.
- Sydney, South East Queensland and the Northern Rivers: plant in autumn or spring in a well-drained spot.
- North Queensland and Darwin: plant from about September to April and make sure the soil drains well through the wet season.
How to plant
- Buy a potted plant; bay is slow from seed and cuttings.
- Dig a hole as deep as the pot and a little wider, in free-draining soil, or use a pot with a soil-based potting mix and some added grit.
- Plant at the same depth it grew in the pot, firm in and water well.
- Mulch, keeping it away from the stem, and water regularly through the first summer while it establishes.
Watering and feeding
Water young plants steadily, then let the soil dry a little between waterings. Established bay in the ground copes with dry spells. Do not overwater, especially pots, as waterlogged roots cause leaf spots and root damage.
Feed potted bay every few weeks from spring to late summer with a liquid fertiliser, or use controlled-release granules. Plants in the ground need little feeding.
Pruning and care through the year
- Clip and shape in late spring and summer. Bay responds well to trimming, which keeps it bushy and to the size you want, and suits hedges, balls, pyramids and standards.
- Older, overgrown plants can be cut back hard, but they recover slowly.
- Repot potted plants every couple of years in spring, or refresh the top of the mix.
- Check the undersides of leaves for scale and wipe off sticky honeydew before sooty mould forms.
Harvesting
Pick leaves at any time of year, choosing mature, deep green leaves rather than soft new growth. Use them fresh, or dry them flat in a warm, airy place out of the sun for a week or two and store them in an airtight jar. Dried leaves have a milder, more rounded flavour.
Growing in pots
Bay is one of the best herbs for a pot and can live in one for many years. Start with a pot at least 30 cm wide and move it up in size as it grows. Use a soil-based potting mix with grit, stand the pot on feet so it drains, water when the top of the mix is dry, and feed through the warm months.
Using it
- Add one or two leaves to soups, stews, stocks, sauces and slow-cooked dishes, and remove them before serving, as the leaves stay tough.
- Bay is also used in pickling and to flavour rice and milk puddings.
Propagating
Take semi-hardwood cuttings in late summer or early autumn from shoots that are firm but still green. Bay cuttings are slow to root and many fail, so take several. Layering a low branch into the soil is slower but more reliable, and plants also grow from fresh seed sown in autumn.
Pests and diseases
Sap-sucking insects are the main problem on bay. Both produce honeydew, and black sooty mould grows on it.
Pests to watch for
- Scale Small, round, brown scales on the undersides of leaves and along stems, with sticky leaves and sooty mould.
- Psyllid Leaf edges curled, thickened and yellowed, with small sap-sucking nymphs and white waxy threads inside. Pick off affected leaves.
Diseases to watch for
- Root rot Yellowing, dropping leaves and dark leaf spots on plants in waterlogged soil or pots.
- Sooty mould A black, sooty coating on leaves that grows on the honeydew from scale and psyllids. Control the insects and it weathers away.
Common questions
Can you eat bay leaves straight from the tree?
Yes, fresh bay leaves from Laurus nobilis can be used in cooking. Their flavour is stronger than dried. Make sure the plant really is bay laurel, because cherry laurel, a common hedge plant with similar leaves, is poisonous.
How do you dry bay leaves?
Lay mature leaves flat in a warm, airy spot out of direct sun for a week or two, until they snap. Store them in an airtight jar away from light.
Can bay grow in a pot?
Yes, it is one of the best herbs for a pot. Use a soil-based mix with grit in a pot at least 30 cm wide, water when the top dries out, feed through the warm months and repot every couple of years.
How fast does a bay tree grow?
Slowly. Bay can reach several metres over many years in the ground, but it is easy to keep small by clipping, and in a pot it stays compact.
Why are my bay leaves sticky and black?
Sap-sucking insects, usually scale, are producing sticky honeydew, and black sooty mould grows on it. Check the undersides of leaves and stems, wipe or scrape the scale off, or use horticultural oil, and the mould will weather away.
How do I propagate a bay tree?
Take semi-hardwood cuttings in late summer or early autumn, or layer a low branch into the soil. Cuttings root slowly and many fail, so take several at once.
Sources we checked: RHS: Bay tree (Laurus nobilis); RHS: Bay sucker; University of Messina: cherry laurel leaves confused with bay laurel; Gardener's Path: How to propagate bay laurel from cuttings.