Bay Laurel

Clusters of greenish-yellow flowers followed by black, autumn fruits and lustrous, aromatic, dark green leaves. This handsome, slow-growing, evergreen shrub or small tree is perfect for a sheltered, sunny or partially shady site. A valuable shrub for providing vertical interest for either a formal or contemporary planting scheme.Position: full sun or partial shadeSoil: fertile, moist but well-drained soilRate of growth: slow-growing Flowering period: March to May Flower colour: clusters of greenish-yellow flowersOther features: black autumn berries on female plants; contact with the foliage may aggravate skin allergies; the mature leaves may be used fresh or dried in bouquet garni, for flavouring stocks and saucesHardiness: frost hardy (needs winter protection)Garden care: Keep well-watered during the growing season and feed with a slow-release fertiliser such as Osmacote. Clip established plants lightly twice during the summer months to retain a balanced shape, using secateurs not shearsGoes well with: Taxus baccata, Ligustrum delavayanum 'Cone', Phlox divaricata 'White Perfume', Pulmonaria officinalis 'Sissinghurst White', Polemonium caeruleum 'Brise d Anjou', Astrantia major 'Alba'Plants are supplied in bush form. They can be trained into most shapes, such as ball or pyramid, as in the photo. You will need some patience to train these bays in a topiary shape as they are slow-growing.
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