Laurus nobilis

A classic Mediterranean shrub cultivated for centuries for its ornamental, dark green glossy leaves — equally valued in the kitchen and the garden. It can be clipped into topiary or left to grow freely as a privacy screen.

Bay laurel is one of the most historically significant Mediterranean plants, native to the region and associated with classical antiquity — its wreaths crowned poets and victors in ancient Greece and Rome. The aromatic dark green leathery leaves are evergreen and used fresh or dried as a culinary herb; small inconspicuous yellow flowers appear in spring on female plants, followed by glossy black berries. Active growth occurs in spring and autumn; growth slows in summer heat and stops below 5°C. Hardy to -8°C in established specimens, the tree is drought-tolerant once rooted, salt-tolerant and remarkably tolerant of severe pruning — qualities that make it the dominant evergreen for clipped Mediterranean topiary.

Allowed to grow naturally, bay laurel becomes a multi-stemmed tree 8–15 m tall; clipped, it forms perfect domes, pyramids, lollipops and tall hedges at any size between 1 and 6 m. Plant clipped specimens in pairs flanking doorways and gateways; in regular rhythms as topiary cones along driveways and terraces; or as a tall dense hedge to define rooms within a Mediterranean garden. Pair with terracotta pots, white-stuccoed walls and the silver-grey of Olea europaea for the classic Italian formal garden palette. Excellent in large terracotta containers on terraces, where the aromatic leaves can be harvested for cooking. Avoid wet heavy soils — the tree resents winter waterlogging.