Bay |
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| Common Name | Bay |
| Scientific Name | Laurus nobilis |
| Bay is known by many other common names: Laurel, Grecian Laurel, Indian Bay, Sweet Bay. It is an evergreen bush or tree, found both wild and cultivated around the Mediterranean Sea. In ancient Greece, laurel leaves were used to make crowns for Olympic heroes and poets, and the tree was considered sacred to the god Apollo. Bay grows widely in the Pacific Northwest and in other warm-temperature and subtropical climates. It is not winter hardy, and it must be grown as a pot plant in colder climates and taken indoors during the cold seasons. Bay tea is used as an astringent, and it is said to aid digestion, relieve flatulence, and stimulate appetite. It is also believed to protect the user from witchcraft and to ease the pains of childbirth. CAUTION: Only Laurus nobilis and Magnolia glauca varieties are used as foodstuffs, and both are said to have narcotic properties, so they should be used sparingly. Native laurels are poisonous and should not be used at all. | |
| Plant | Tender, perennial tree with smooth-barked trunk, and thick, smooth, dark evergreen leaves. Whitish flowers are small, grow in clusters, and are seldom seen in colder climates. Flowers appear in April and May and develop into black, egg-shaped berries. |
| Height | 3 to 6 feet when cultivated as a pot shrub. Up to 30 feet when grown outdoors in temperate climate. |
| Soil | Sandy, well-drained. |
| Exposure | Full sun or partial shade. Protect from cold winds. |
| Propagation | By stem cuttings. Take 3- to 4-inch-long shoots of half-ripened stems, and place them in soil of sand and peat moss in a shady place outdoors. Or, shoots may be layered. Allow 6 months or more for rooting. Suckers-shoots rising from a subterranean stem or root-develop a good root system more quickly. |
| Care | If using as a bush outdoors, place plants 4 feet apart, and prune to desired height. As a pot plant, prune to promote bushiness, and bring indoors during colder weather. Bay grows very slowly, so bay trees are seldom inexpensive. |
| Part used for Tea | Leaves. |
| Taste | Pungent, almost bitter. Can be sweetened with honey. |
| How to Brew | INFUSION: Use 1 teaspoon of dried leaves or 3 teaspoons of fresh crushed leaves. Cover with 1 cup of boiling water, and steep to taste. |
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