Laurus nobilis - Field-Grown
Warm, savoury, and instantly recognisable, Laurus nobilis is the Mediterranean bay laurel that earns its place in both the garden and the kitchen. Glossy dark-green leaves sit densely along upright stems, releasing a familiar aromatic scent when brushed or crushed. Small pale-yellow flowers appear in spring, sometimes followed by small dark fruit, but bay laurel is grown chiefly for its foliage and its year-round structural presence as a dense evergreen shrub or small tree.
Bay laurel is one of the more useful evergreens for the modern garden. It clips cleanly into formal hedges and screens for evergreen privacy, holds its shape well as topiary near doorways and entrances, and works as a single feature plant where a strong evergreen form is needed. The aromatic leaves are the same ones used in cooking, so a bay laurel sited near the kitchen does double duty. It suits Mediterranean schemes, formal courtyard gardens, contemporary planting, and townhouse courtyards, and grows well in a large container on a paved terrace.
Plant bay laurel in full sun to part shade in free-draining soil. It tolerates clay and sandy ground, copes with coastal exposure and city conditions, and is suited to most NZ gardens. In colder inland regions, a sheltered position helps soften winter frosts. For a continuous hedge, space around 60cm to 1m apart. Can be kept to 1.2m high upwards
Left unpruned, bay laurel reaches 7 to 12 m over many years, but its naturally slow growth and willingness to be clipped make it easy to hold at any size from 1.2m tall to suit the garden.
About Field Grown Plants
Field-grown plants are grown directly in open fields rather than in pots, which lets the roots spread and develop naturally. The result is a larger, stronger plant with a well-established root system that settles in quickly and handles the elements better than a container-raised equivalent.
In the cooler months, the plants are carefully lifted from the field and their roots wrapped in hessian, a coarse natural fabric made from jute. No plastic pots, no soil-less mix, no shortcuts. It is the traditional European way of growing and transporting larger evergreen and deciduous plants, and the reason field-grown stock arrives ready to make an immediate impact in the garden.
Field-grown plants are available June to mid-September only, the natural lifting season. Order while stocks last.
Trimming: Clip lightly in late spring through summer to hold a neat shape, with small touch-ups as needed through the growing season. For hedges and topiary, regular light clipping produces a denser finish than occasional hard cuts. Remove any shoots emerging from the base of the trunk on standards.
Fertilising: Feed in spring with a balanced slow-release fertiliser as new growth begins. For bay laurel in containers, use a controlled-release feed in spring and a liquid feed every two to four weeks through summer. Ease off feeding by late summer.
Watering: When planting in winter or early spring, natural rainfall usually does the work and watering should be light to avoid waterlogging cold, wet soil. Through the first warm season after planting, water regularly to help the plant settle in, keeping the root zone evenly moist. Once established, bay laurel is fairly drought-tolerant but benefits from deep watering during prolonged dry spells, particularly in containers.
Pest Control: Watch for scale insects, aphids, and thrips on new growth. Signs include sticky residue on leaves, sooty mould, and silvering or distortion on young foliage. Treat with horticultural oil or a soft soap spray, and prune out badly affected growth to improve airflow.
Disease Management: Bay laurel is generally trouble-free. Leaf yellowing or browning is more often a sign of waterlogging or container stress than disease. Improve drainage, check root health, and adjust watering before reaching for treatments.
Enjoy complimentary delivery anywhere in mainland New Zealand when you purchase plants worth $250 or more*.
For orders below $250, the following flat-rate delivery charges are applicable:
- Urban delivery within mainland New Zealand: $19.95
- Rural delivery within mainland New Zealand: $39.95
- Waiheke, Chatham and Great Barrier Islands: Please contact us for shipping options.
We aim to have all orders shipped within 14 days from the order date, unless a different shipping date is specified alongside a product.
