Qualities such as fabulous green foliage and a stately appearance combined with a compact shape make bay laurel (scientific name: Laurus nobilis) a great addition to any balcony. Bay laurel blooms with white flowers which appear as umbels in the leaf axils and later become oval berries. The plant remains green all through the year with oval leaves that feature a light vein, that looks like a feather. Bay laurel is available in space-saving shapes (pillar, standard) which work well with the limited space available on a balcony. It can even be used to create a green hedge to hide a balustrade. And the leaves? They have a pleasant fragrance, and can also be used in cooking.
Credit: Thejoyofplants.co.uk
Origin
Bay laurel grows in Asia Minor and the eastern part of the Mediterranean. The Romans then brought it to Western Europe. In the wild the plant grows to be a fairly tall shrub or small tree that can reach a height of 10 meters.
Range
The bay laurel range is limited; usually the ‘ordinary’ green-leaved variety is offered. However, there are a few cultivars with a different leaf colour and shape. Sometimes the leaves are more wavy, elongated, rounder or smaller. And sometimes the leaves are variegated in white or gold and have a light outer edge. There is a lot of choice in terms of shape, because the plant is very suitable for topiary. Hence there are pyramid, cylinder, cube, cone and ball shapes, and the trunks can be both straight and twisted.
For more information:
Thejoyofplants.co.uk