🌱 Medicinal

True Laurel or Bay

Laurus nobilis

$27.00
Edible
Low Stock
Medicinal

1 Gallon | Hardiness Zones 8-10

A classic evergreen grown with care and conscience.

Among the ancient plants still gracing our gardens, few possess the pedigree, purpose, and poetry of Laurus nobilis, the noble Bay Laurel. Once woven into crowns for poets and warriors, its leaves have seasoned the stews of shepherds and kings alike. Here at Woodlanders, we honor that legacy—not with haste, nor with shortcuts—but with the patient hands of stewardship and a commitment to purity.

We grow our Bay Laurel without glyphosate, synthetic herbicides, or any practice that would compromise the safety or edibility of this culinary treasure. What you receive is a plant raised with intention—safe for your kitchen, safe for your pollinators, and safe for the land.

An evergreen shrub of fine constitution, Laurus nobilis bears dark green, lance-shaped leaves that are rich in aromatic oils. It accepts pruning with grace and lends itself well to topiary forms, whether grown in-ground in warmer zones or kept in pots where winters bite harder. In the right hands, it becomes a living sculpture—always green, always useful.

Its place in the Southern garden is both ornamental and essential. It recalls the kitchen plots of old plantations and herb gardens once tucked behind cottages, tended by hands who understood both sustenance and beauty. Bay Laurel deserves a central spot once more, not just for flavor but for form—for the way it holds a line, greets the winter with unwavering color, and speaks quietly of heritage.

Highlights:

  • Culinary & Historic: Aromatic leaves have flavored food since antiquity; a staple of classic herbal lore.

  • Responsibly Grown: Woodlanders does not use glyphosate or harmful chemicals—this plant is safe for culinary use and pollinator-friendly.

  • Sun-Loving & Evergreen: Thrives in full sun with well-drained, neutral soil; keeps its foliage year-round.

  • Topiary-Ready: Naturally compact form ideal for shaping; beautiful in pots or formal gardens.

  • Adaptable: Hardy shrub in warm zones; excellent container plant in colder climates.

Additional photos courtesy of Cal Poly

Pickup available at Aiken Nursery

Usually ready in 2-4 days

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Plant Info

Hardiness Zones: 8 to 10

Height: 15 to 20 Feet

Spread: 6 to 8 Feet

Seaonsal: Evergreen

Growth Rate: Moderate
Medicinal Uses
  • Detoxification & Cleansing
  • Immune Support
  • Respiratory Support
  • Digestive Health
  • Mental & Emotional Well-being
Care Instructions
Flower & Foliage Description

research rating: 3.5 / 5

True Laurel or Bay

Carminative – relieves flatulence and soothes the digestive tract, Antimicrobial – inhibits bacterial, fungal, and viral pathogens, Expectorant – helps to expel mucus from lungs and sinuses, Analgesic – mild pain relief, especially topical, Anti-inflammatory – particularly useful in joint and muscle complaints, and Mild Sedative – used traditionally to calm anxiety and promote sleep

  • Detoxification & Cleansing
  • Immune Support
  • Respiratory Support
  • Digestive Health
  • Mental & Emotional Well-being

Laurus nobilis has been revered since antiquity—not only as a symbol of victory and divine inspiration but also as a medicinal plant. Ancient Greeks and Romans used bay leaves in poultices, infusions, and even fumigations. Hippocrates recommended it for digestive complaints and uterine conditions. In European folk medicine, bay was used for rheumatism, colds, and as a nervine tonic. Bay oil was applied topically to treat sprains, bruises, and arthritic pain.

Bay leaves were often included in herbal blends as a protective and purifying agent, burned to “clear the air” in both spiritual and medical contexts. Throughout the Middle Ages, bay was believed to guard against plague and lightning alike—a mark of its deeply rooted symbolic and practical power.

Preparation:

  • Infusion/Tea: Dried leaves steeped in hot water to support digestion, relieve bloating, and calm nerves
  • Essential Oil: Topically applied (diluted) for muscular aches, arthritis, or neuralgia
  • Inhalation: Steam inhalation with bay oil for congestion or bronchitis
  • Poultice: Crushed leaves applied warm to sprains or wounds
  • Tincture/Extract: Alcoholic extraction of leaves or berries used in traditional Western herbalism

Parts Used:

  • Leaves – most commonly used, both fresh and dried
  • Berries (fruit) – sometimes used in traditional tinctures and oil infusions
  • Essential oil – steam-distilled from leaves or berries; used externally or in aromatherapy
  • Bark and wood – occasionally referenced in older herbal traditions, rarely used today

  • Eugenol – antiseptic, analgesic, anti-inflammatory
  • Linalool – sedative, anxiolytic, antimicrobial
  • 1,8-Cineole (Eucalyptol) – expectorant, bronchodilator, antimicrobial
  • α- and β-Pinene – anti-inflammatory, bronchodilating, cognitive enhancer
  • Methyl eugenol – insect repellent and mild sedative (note: controversial due to potential hepatotoxicity in large doses)
  • Flavonoids (e.g., quercetin, kaempferol) – antioxidant, anti-inflammatory
  • Tannins – astringent, antimicrobial
  • Essential oil composition varies by region and growing conditions, but cineole and eugenol tend to be the dominant constituents.

Medicinal Considerations

  • Essential oil must be diluted before topical use; it can be irritating in its pure form.
  • Not for internal use in large amounts—especially the essential oil or berries, which can be toxic at high doses.
  • Pregnancy caution: Some traditional sources advise against internal use of bay during pregnancy due to potential uterine stimulation.
  • Methyl eugenol has raised toxicity concerns in large quantities in animal studies; risk to humans at culinary or medicinal doses appears minimal, but caution is advised.
  • Always consult a medical professional or clinical herbalist before using bay medicinally beyond culinary use.

Research References:

  1. Boukhatem MN, et al. (2014) – Pharmacological studies of Laurus nobilis essential oil: antifungal, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory properties
    Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine
  2. Peana AT, et al. (2002) – Anti-inflammatory activity of linalool and 1,8-cineole
    Phytomedicine
  3. Basak S & Candan F. (2010) – Effect of Laurus nobilis L. essential oil on different fungal strains
    Phytotherapy Research
  4. Nayak BS, et al. (2006) – Wound healing activity of the leaves of Laurus nobilis
    International Journal of Green Pharmacy
  5. Al-Bayati FA. (2009) – Synergistic antibacterial activity between Thymus vulgaris and Laurus nobilis essential oils
    Journal of Ethnopharmacology

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