There are several different types of Laurel plants that are suitable for hedging. Most of the hedging plants sold in the UK come from the Common or Cherry Laurel group (Prunus laurocerasus) but Portugal Laurel also makes a dense, evergreen hedge. Bay Laurel is also a useful hedging plant but is not hardy enough in some parts of the UK.
Bay laurel is a popular herb used for cooking and ornamental purposes. But did you know there are actually several different types of bay laurel plants? In this article we’ll explore the various bay laurel varieties and how to identify them.
True Bay Laurel (Laurus nobilis)
The true bay laurel (Laurus nobilis) is the original bay leaf plant used for culinary purposes. It is native to the Mediterranean region and has been used for thousands of years in cooking. The leaves are oval-shaped and impart a robust, aromatic flavor.
Some key features of true bay laurel
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Grows as a tree or shrub up to 60 feet tall.
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Leaves are dark green and leathery.
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Fresh or dried leaves have little aroma until crushed or cooked.
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Fruits are small, black berries.
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Requires warm, sunny conditions to thrive.
True bay laurel is safe for human consumption and is the variety used dried or fresh in soups, stews, and other dishes.
California Bay Laurel (Umbellularia californica)
California bay laurel is native to western North America. It is also called Oregon myrtle, pepperwood, and California laurel. This variety looks nearly identical to true bay laurel but has a stronger aroma and spicier flavor.
Features of California bay laurel:
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Grows as a tree up to 115 feet tall.
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Leaves are slightly longer than true bay laurel.
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Fruits are a bit larger, around 1 inch diameter.
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Has a potent, peppery fragrance when crushed.
California bay can be used as a substitute for true bay in cooking but use about half the amount due to its stronger flavor.
Willow Leaf Bay Laurel (Laurus nobilis ‘Angustifolia’)
The willow leaf bay laurel is a cultivar of the true bay laurel discovered in Italy. It has long, slender leaves that give it a wispy, willow-like appearance. The flavor and aroma are similar to standard bay laurel.
Key traits:
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Leaves are long and narrow.
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Grows shorter, to around 30 feet maximum.
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Maintains a nice conical shape when pruned.
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Good for topiaries or ornamental shapes.
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Leaves are safe for culinary use.
Indian Bay Leaf (Cinnamomum tamala)
Indian bay leaf comes from an evergreen tree native to Asia. The leaves are used in Indian cuisine to flavor curries, stews, and meat dishes. The taste is more intense than Mediterranean bay leaves.
Features of Indian bay leaf:
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Leaves are olive green and have three veins.
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Leaves are smaller than Mediterranean types.
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Imparts a cinnamon-like aroma.
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Only use for cooking, not suitable for human consumption.
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Often used in vegetarian dishes.
Portugal Laurel / Portuguese Laurel
(Prunus lusitanica and its varieties)
Prunus lusitanica is a bushy, evergreen shrub or tree with a dark green leaf. The leaf size is much smaller than that of Prunus laurocerasus with leaves being 8-10cm (4 inches) long. Portugal Laurel has reddish new shoots (stems) that look attractive against the dark green leaves. If left untrimmed, it produces masses of small fragrant white flowers in early summer followed by small red to dark purple fruits. Portugal Laurel makes an excellent hedging plant although the variety ‘Myrtifolia’ is becoming more popular.
All varieties of Prunus lusitanica will grown on any free-draining soil (i.e. not waterlogged) even shallow chalky soils where it can be planted where Prunus laurocerasus (Cherry Laurel) cannot.
All varieties of Prunus lusitanica will grow in full sun or partial shade.
Ultimate height: Prunus lusitanica grows to approximately 7m (20ft) tall as a hedge but in good conditions and if it is grown as a single stem tree, it has been known to grow to over 10m (30ft).
Prunus lusitanica is very hardy and will survive temperatures of -25oC.
Prunus lusitanica ‘Myrtifolia’ has a smaller, darker leaf than the species, Prunus lusitanica, with redder stems. It also has a neater, tidier more elegant growth habit. Myrtifolia is sometimes called Angustifolia or Pyramidalis and is excellent for hedging or topiary. It smaller leaves give it a similar appearance to Bay Laurel but it is much hardier withstanding temperatures of -23oC. Commercially, it is now more widely grown than the ordinary Portugal Laurel as it is more popular as a hedging plant.
Ultimate height 5m (15ft) tall if left untrimmed.
Prunus lusitanica ‘Variegata’ has dark green leaves with a narrow white margin around the edge of the leaf. Slightly slower growing than the other varieties of Prunus lusitanica and more difficult to find commercially available especially in larger sizes.
Ultimate height if left untrimmed 5m (15ft).
Azorica is a shrubby variety with a broader, thicker leaf that is about 10cm long.
It is more difficult to find than the other varieties of Portugal Laurel as it is less widely grown commercially.
Very hardy withstanding temperatures of -23oC.
Common Laurel, Cherry Laurel and English Laurel
(Prunus laurocerasus and its varieties)
Common Laurel, Cherry Laurel and English Laurel are different common names for the same plant. Its botanical name is Prunus laurocerasus. This is a bit of a mouthful but it’s useful to know exactly what we are talking about and that is why the plant classification system uses Latin, so we don’t get confused with lots of different common names for the same plant.
All varieties of Common Laurel (Prunus laurocerasus) will grow in full sun or deep shade and in most soils except waterlogged or very shallow, chalky soils where they may become very pale (chlorotic). They are all hardy and will tolerate temperatures down to -23oC.
Prunus laurocerasus is the original species of Common Laurel. It is a quick-growing, evergreen, wide-spreading shrub that can grow up to 18ft (6 metres) in height. This is the species of Common Laurel (aka Cherry Laurel, English Laurel) from which most of the other varieties have been developed. Many of the newer varieties, in particular ‘Rotundifolia’ are now much more widely grown for hedging as they are more upright and/or more compact. New varieties are developed from the species by growing individual plants or branches that are found with a different habit of growing or a different leaf shape or colour.
Prunus laurocerasus ‘Rotundifolia’ is a bushier and more upright growing form of Common (aka Cherry) Laurel than the species. It also has a more attractive rounded leaf which is generally half as broad as it is long, hence its name Rotundifolia meaning rotund foliage or rounded leaf.
Rotundifolia is the most popular form of Common Laurel grown for hedging and despite many new varieties being developed such as Etna, Novita and Caucasica, it still remains the best variety, in our opinion, for hedging.
Rotundifolia is quick-growing putting on about 60cm (2ft) a year under good growing conditions. Rotundifolia will grow to 5-6m (15-18ft) tall if left untrimmed but can be pruned to any height to form a dense, evergreen hedge.
This variety of common laurel is a selection from Rotundifolia and as a result, is very similar to it. There is some evidence that it may be even hardier, tolerating temperatures of -27oC, and so it is becoming more popular on continental Europe where winters are harder than in the UK.
Novita has large rounded leaves like Rotundifolia and grows to a similar height of 5-6m (15-18ft) tall. It is also quick-growing putting on about 60cm (2ft) a year under good growing conditions.
Caucasica is another fast-growing variety of common laurel. It has upright growth and much narrower leaves than the species. It forms a good hedge but is not as popular as Rotundifolia.
Caucasica will grow up to 60cm (2ft) a year under good growing conditions and will grow to 5-6m (15-18ft) tall if left untrimmed.
Etna was a seedling of Rotundifolia raised in Germany. It has bronze leaves when young that turn a glossy dark green. The leaves are slightly more curled at the edges than Rotundifolia. Etna’s habit of growth is more compact and as a result its rate of growth is slightly slower and its ultimate height is shorter, growing to approximately 3m (10ft). According to some reports, it will tolerate temperatures of -27oC.
Marbled White is a variety of Common Laurel with fine white markings on the leaves. It is slower growing that most other varieties of Prunus laurocerasus as it has less chlorophyll in the leaves because of the variegation. Ultimate height 5m (15ft) tall.
Otto Luyken is a low-growing variety of laurel with narrow, dark green leaves. It is often planted en-masse by landscapers as ground cover. Ultimate Height 1.2m (4ft), Spread 1.5m (5ft)
Zabeliana, like Otto Luyken, is a low-growing variety with a narrow leaf, although the leaf is more rounded than that of Otto Luyken. Ultimate Height 1.2m (4ft), Spread 1.5m (5ft)
How to Grow Bay Leaves (Bay Laurel) – Complete Growing Guide
FAQ
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