Bay Tree

Bay Tree 'Miles Choice' (Laurus nobilis 'Miles Choice') is the culinary bay selected for hedging rather than for the herb pot. Left untrimmed it reaches about 5m tall and 3m wide, but it clips to whatever size you ask of it and holds that shape, because the growth is genuinely slow. Every leaf you cut off is the real bay leaf of the kitchen.

Why you'll love it

• A hedge you can cook with. True bay leaves, aromatic fresh or dried. One established plant supplies more than a household gets through.
• It clips to any shape. About 5m if left alone, or a 1.5m hedge, a clipped ball or a matched pair at a doorway. Slow growth holds the shape between trims.
• Tough where formal hedges struggle. Frost hardy, drought tolerant once settled, and comfortable with salt and wind, so exposed coastal boundaries suit it.
• Evergreen and undemanding. Dense glossy foliage all year, cream flowers in spring, and two trims a season is the whole job.

Where it works best

Hedging and screening. Plant 1m apart in a single row and hold it between 1.2m and 2.5m. Allow three to four seasons for a tube stock hedge to knit, or two from 300mm plants.

Topiary and shaping. Small leaves and dense branching take a sharp edge, and slow growth keeps that edge for months, which is why bay is the classic subject for clipped balls and standards.

Pots and containers. A 400mm or wider pot with good drainage holds a plant at 1.5m to 2m indefinitely, which is the usual pair either side of an entrance.

Growing Bay Tree in Australia

Position and climate. Full sun gives the densest growth and strongest leaf flavour, though part shade is tolerated. It suits subtropical, warm temperate, cool temperate and Mediterranean gardens, and takes frost once established. It is not the pick for the wet tropics, where humidity encourages sooty mould.

Soil. Drainage matters more than fertility. Bay will not accept wet feet, so on heavy clay plant on a raised mound with compost through the bed. Mulch 75mm deep, clear of the stem.

Water and feed. Deep soak twice a week through the first summer, then taper off. After two seasons it is properly drought tolerant. A controlled release fertiliser in early spring and midsummer keeps the colour rich, and potted plants need more of both.

Pruning. Trim in late spring once the new flush hardens, and again in late summer. It reshoots from old wood, so a hedge left too long can be cut back hard and will refurnish.

What to expect when it arrives

It is grown in six sizes: tube, 140mm in packs of ten, 200mm in packs of six, 250mm in packs of three, 300mm and 400mm. The multi packs are how most people buy a bay hedge: young, uniform plants priced for a long run. The 300mm and 400mm plants arrive already bushy, carrying a metre or so of height.

Bay travels well because the leaves are leathery and hold their moisture. Expect a quiet first month, then unhurried growth of roughly 20cm to 30cm a year. Plants are delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95. Every plant carries our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• How to create a great hedge and keep it sharp
• Plants that take clipping and topiary
• Browse the edible plant range
• Compare hedging and screening options

Common questions

How far apart should I plant it for a hedge?

One metre apart in a single row. Closer spacing does not close the gap any faster with a plant this slow, and it makes watering and feeding along the row harder.

Is it safe around cats and dogs?

No. Bay leaves are toxic to cats and dogs if chewed, and the stiff leaf edges can cause physical irritation as well. Plant it where a determined chewer cannot reach it.

How quickly does it grow?

Slowly, around 20cm to 30cm a year with water and feed. That is the trade off: slower to close, then very little asked of you for the next twenty years.