Plant Details

Laurus nobilis

Bay

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Common names

45 names · 29 languages
EnglishYour language
+3 more namesShow fewer names
  • royal bay[2]
  • Sweet laurel[2]
  • true laurel[2]
Other languages (28)
Dutch
  • Laurier
  • Laurierboom[2]
French
  • Laurier noble
  • Laurier-sauce[2]
Arabic
  • الغار النبيل[2]
Basque
Catalan
Chinese (Simplified)
Chinese (Traditional)
Croatian
Czech
  • vavřín vznešený[2]
Danish
  • Ægte Laurbær[2]
Estonian
  • harilik loorberipuu[2]
Finnish
  • välimerenlaakeri[2]
Galician
German
  • Echter Lorbeer[2]
  • Echter Lorbeerbaum[1]
  • Edler Lorbeer[2]
+1 more nameShow fewer names
  • Gewürzlorbeer[2]
Greek
  • Δάφνη η ευγενής[2]
  • Κοινή Δάφνη[2]
Hebrew
  • דפנה[2]
  • ער אציל[2]
Italian
Japanese
  • ゲッケイジュ[2]
Lithuanian
  • Kilnusis lauramedis[2]
Polish
  • wawrzyn szlachetny[2]
Portuguese
Russian
  • Лавр благородный[2]
Slovak
  • vavrín vznešený[2]
Slovenian
  • navadni lovor[2]
Spanish
  • Laurel[2]
  • Laurel de Castilla[2]
Swedish
Turkish
Ukrainian
  • Лавр благородний[2]
Sources & name notes (2)

Names recorded in our plant catalogue and botanical sources, grouped by language. Usage can vary by region.

Numbered references identify names recorded by an external source. Other names are from our plant catalogue.

[1] Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20 — Laurus nobilis L. ↗

Common names from World Plants, version 26.05, reproduced in Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20. License: CC BY.

Source records
  • Echter Lorbeerbaum (DE); Bay Laurel (EN) — VernacularName.tsv, line 152316; taxon 3SN47.
[2] Laurus nobilis — iNaturalist taxon names ↗

Community-curated iNaturalist taxonomy; common-name attestation, not an independent botanical determination.

Source records
  • Bay laurel — results[0].names[1]; taxon id 54759; Laurus nobilis.
  • Sweet laurel — results[0].names[2]; taxon id 54759; Laurus nobilis.
  • Loureiro — results[0].names[3]; taxon id 54759; Laurus nobilis.
  • Bay — results[0].names[4]; taxon id 54759; Laurus nobilis.
  • Laurel de Castilla — results[0].names[5]; taxon id 54759; Laurus nobilis.
  • Alloro — results[0].names[6]; taxon id 54759; Laurus nobilis.
  • Laurier-sauce — results[0].names[7]; taxon id 54759; Laurus nobilis.
  • Llorer — results[0].names[8]; taxon id 54759; Laurus nobilis.
  • Llor — results[0].names[9]; taxon id 54759; Laurus nobilis.
  • Laurierboom — results[0].names[10]; taxon id 54759; Laurus nobilis.
  • Echter Lorbeer — results[0].names[11]; taxon id 54759; Laurus nobilis.
  • Edler Lorbeer — results[0].names[12]; taxon id 54759; Laurus nobilis.
  • Gewürzlorbeer — results[0].names[13]; taxon id 54759; Laurus nobilis.
  • välimerenlaakeri — results[0].names[14]; taxon id 54759; Laurus nobilis.
  • vavřín vznešený — results[0].names[15]; taxon id 54759; Laurus nobilis.
  • Лавр благородный — results[0].names[16]; taxon id 54759; Laurus nobilis.
  • Laurel — results[0].names[17]; taxon id 54759; Laurus nobilis.
  • ゲッケイジュ — results[0].names[18]; taxon id 54759; Laurus nobilis.
  • harilik loorberipuu — results[0].names[19]; taxon id 54759; Laurus nobilis.
  • Κοινή Δάφνη — results[0].names[20]; taxon id 54759; Laurus nobilis.
  • Δάφνη η ευγενής — results[0].names[21]; taxon id 54759; Laurus nobilis.
  • Loureiro — results[0].names[22]; taxon id 54759; Laurus nobilis.
  • 月桂 — results[0].names[23]; taxon id 54759; Laurus nobilis.
  • 月桂 — results[0].names[24]; taxon id 54759; Laurus nobilis.
  • defne — results[0].names[25]; taxon id 54759; Laurus nobilis.
  • Kilnusis lauramedis — results[0].names[26]; taxon id 54759; Laurus nobilis.
  • الغار النبيل — results[0].names[27]; taxon id 54759; Laurus nobilis.
  • Ægte Laurbær — results[0].names[28]; taxon id 54759; Laurus nobilis.
  • lager — results[0].names[29]; taxon id 54759; Laurus nobilis.
  • lagerträd — results[0].names[30]; taxon id 54759; Laurus nobilis.
  • navadni lovor — results[0].names[31]; taxon id 54759; Laurus nobilis.
  • true laurel — results[0].names[32]; taxon id 54759; Laurus nobilis.
  • royal bay — results[0].names[33]; taxon id 54759; Laurus nobilis.
  • wawrzyn szlachetny — results[0].names[34]; taxon id 54759; Laurus nobilis.
  • Bay Leaf Tree — results[0].names[35]; taxon id 54759; Laurus nobilis.
  • Lovor — results[0].names[36]; taxon id 54759; Laurus nobilis.
  • Лавр благородний — results[0].names[37]; taxon id 54759; Laurus nobilis.
  • ער אציל — results[0].names[38]; taxon id 54759; Laurus nobilis.
  • דפנה — results[0].names[39]; taxon id 54759; Laurus nobilis.
  • vavrín vznešený — results[0].names[40]; taxon id 54759; Laurus nobilis.
  • Ereinotza — results[0].names[41]; taxon id 54759; Laurus nobilis.
  • Akdeniz Defnesi — results[0].names[42]; taxon id 54759; Laurus nobilis.

General information

Scientific name: Laurus nobilis
Accepted name (Kew): Laurus nobilis L. View name reference ↗

Accepted in the cited Kew taxonomic treatment.

Sources [1] [2]
Botanical family: Lauraceae

Kew's family placement for the genus Laurus (WCVP v16).

Sources [1]
Also known as: Bay
Images: Google Images

Plant characteristics

Layer: Tree
Catalogue size class: Small, Medium
Height: 2.44–3.66 m

NC State landscape size range; converted from feet and inches. Size varies with site, age and management.

Sources [3]
Spread: 2.44–9.14 m

NC State landscape size range; converted from feet and inches. Size varies with site, age and management.

Sources [3]
Growth rate: Moderate
Sources [3]
Foliage: Evergreen
Sources [3]
Growth habit: Conical, Dense, Oval, Pyramidal

Whole-plant habit and form as described by NC State.

Sources [3]

Growing conditions

USDA hardiness: 8b, 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b

USDA zones listed by NC State; winter survival does not establish reliable cropping.

Sources [3]
Soil moisture:
Well-drained, Occasionally Dry, Occasionally Wet

Moisture and drainage conditions listed by NC State.

Sources [3]
Soil:
Clay, High Organic Matter, Loam (Silt), Sand
Sources [3]
pH:
Acidic Neutral Alkaline
Light:
Full sun, Partial Shade
Sources [3]

Uses

Edible parts:
Condiment, Tea
Edibility rating:
(3)
Medicinal rating:
(3)
Functions:
Essential oil, Hedge, Parasiticide, Repellent, Wood

Description

Leaves - fresh or dried. Bay leaves have a spicy, aromatic flavor and are commonly used in soups, stews, and in the herb mixture 'Bouquet Garni.' The leaves can be used fresh or harvested and dried in the summer. The flavor of dried, ground, or finely grated leaves is stronger than that of fresh leaves, but they should not be stored for more than a year, as they will lose their flavor. The dried fruit of the bay laurel is also used as a flavoring. Furthermore, dried leaves are used to make herbal tea, and an essential oil extracted from the leaves is used as a flavoring for food. The yields of this oil can vary from 1 to 3%.

Harvest

Harvest starts: 01/09
Harvest ends: 31/10

Crown

Crown shape: Narrow pyramidal
Crown density: Dense crown

Sources and references

References for the information marked with source numbers on this page.

Sources checked
  1. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew World Checklist of Vascular Plants, version 16, extracted 4 June 2026
    Supports: Botanical familyTaxonomy
    Relevant sections
    • Botanical family: WCVP v16, wcvp_names.csv row 61303; name ID 2349371; Laurus L.. Family column.
    • Taxonomy: WCVP v16, wcvp_names.csv row 66801; name ID 2349094; Laurus nobilis L..

    Source checked on .

    Source data licence: CC BY 3.0.

  2. Catalogue of Life Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20 — Laurus nobilis

    Taxonomic data from World Plants, version 26.05, reproduced in Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20.

    Supports: Taxonomy
    Relevant sections
    • Taxonomy: COL 2026-08-20, NameUsage.tsv line 501965, ID 3SN47: Laurus nobilis L. (accepted).

    Source checked on .

  3. NC State Extension, North Carolina State University Laurus nobilis — Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox
    Supports: HeightSpreadGrowth rateFoliageGrowth habitLightSoil moistureSoil textureUSDA hardiness
    Relevant sections
    • Height: Dimensions > Height; Height: 8 ft. 0 in. - 12 ft. 0 in.
    • Spread: Dimensions > Width; Width: 8 ft. 0 in. - 30 ft. 0 in.
    • Growth rate: Growth Rate
    • Foliage: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics
    • Growth habit: Habit/Form
    • Light: Light
    • Soil moisture: Soil Drainage
    • Soil texture: Soil Texture
    • USDA hardiness: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone

    Source checked on .