Bringing Bay Home:
How to Raise Your Own Bay Plant
There’s something deeply satisfying about reaching for a leaf of Laurus nobilis — the noble bay — from your own garden. Not only is this evergreen aromatic the backbone of countless soups, stews, and sauces, but the act of growing it yourself grounds you in an herbal tradition that spans millennia.
Bay leaves have been used since antiquity for both culinary and ceremonial purposes. From Greek crowns of honor to 17th-century colonial stews, this herb is as timeless as it is useful.
Today, we bring the noble bay into our homes and gardens — not just as a culinary companion, but as a living symbol of wisdom, resilience, and herbal beauty.
What Is the Bay Laurel Plant?
Botanical Name: Laurus nobilis
Family: Lauraceae
Type: Evergreen shrub or small tree
Zones: USDA Zones 8–11 (but can be container-grown in colder zones)
Bay laurel thrives in Mediterranean climates but adapts well to container life — perfect for patios, greenhouses, and sunny windowsills in northern regions.
How to Raise Bay at Home
1. Start With a Sapling
While bay seeds are slow and finicky, you can purchase a small plant or rooted cutting from a local nursery or herbal supplier. Choose a healthy green specimen with firm, glossy leaves.
2. Choose the Right Container
Bay appreciates well-drained soil and doesn’t love wet feet. If growing in a container:
Use a 12–16" pot with a drainage hole.
Mix potting soil with sand or perlite to ensure excellent drainage.
Consider a terra cotta pot for breathability.
3. Sunlight & Temperature
Outdoors: Full sun to partial shade.
Indoors: Bright southern exposure.
Bay prefers temps between 60–85°F but can overwinter indoors if it dips below 25°F outside.
4. Watering
Let the top inch of soil dry out between waterings. Don’t overwater — bay hates soggy roots.
5. Pruning & Shaping
Bay laurel can be pruned into:
Topiaries
Standard trees
Low, dense shrubs
It responds beautifully to shaping. Prune in early spring to encourage bushy growth.
6. Harvesting
Pick mature leaves and allow them to dry in a cool, dark area. Dried bay leaves have a more concentrated flavor than fresh ones. Once dried, store in airtight glass jars — ideally whole, not crushed.
Culinary Magic: Use It Well
Add whole bay leaves to broths, beans, stocks, and braises.
Remove before serving — they’re not meant to be eaten whole.
Combine with thyme, rosemary, and parsley in bouquet garni for French dishes.
Benefits Beyond the Kitchen
Bay leaves are traditionally used to:
Aid digestion
Repel insects
Fragrance herbal sachets
Symbolize wisdom and victory
In some folk traditions, bay leaves are written on and burned to release intentions. We love blending it with lavender in herbal pillow mixes.
🌟 Sidebar: Bay Leaf Butter Cubes for Soups and Stews
Preserve the flavor of fresh bay with this old-world kitchen trick.
🧈 How to Make:
Warm 1 stick of unsalted butter on low heat.
Add 3–4 fresh bay leaves.
Simmer gently for 10–15 minutes to infuse.
Remove from heat and strain.
Pour into ice cube trays and freeze.
Pop a cube into your next soup pot for instant flavor depth.
Optional Add-ins: garlic, cracked pepper, thyme.
🌿 Final Thoughts
Raising your own bay laurel isn't just about harvesting leaves. It's about planting a piece of the ancient world in your everyday life. Whether on your kitchen windowsill or beside the garden gate, bay brings beauty, function, and herbal history full circle.
Until next time…
I am…
Phil Wilson…
And, here's to living an Herbal Lifestyle With You! 🌿