Crestwood Bay Laurel
Laurus nobilis ‘Crestwood’Crestwood Bay Laurel is an elegant evergreen shrub or small tree known for its aromatic, glossy dark green leaves. Ideal for culinary use, these leaves can be harvested fresh or dried to enhance soups, stews, and sauces. Its dense, upright growth habit makes it an excellent choice for formal hedges, topiaries, or container plantings, bringing both fragrance and visual appeal to gardens or patios.
This hardy laurel is low-maintenance and adaptable, thriving in full sun to partial shade. It tolerates a range of soil types as long as drainage is good. Regular pruning encourages a compact shape and can create stunning topiary forms. While primarily valued for its foliage, the plant may produce small, inconspicuous yellow flowers in late spring, followed by dark berries on female plants if pollination occurs.
Crestwood Bay Laurel pairs beautifully with other Mediterranean-style plants, herbs like rosemary and thyme, or evergreen shrubs for year-round interest. Its evergreen leaves and versatile form make it a standout for containers, formal garden designs, or mixed perennial borders.
Care Instructions:
Planting: Choose well-draining soil and a sunny or partially shaded location.
Sunlight: Prefers full sun to partial shade.
Watering: Water regularly during the first growing season; once established, it is moderately drought-tolerant.
Fertilizing: Feed in spring with a balanced fertilizer to encourage healthy growth.
Pruning: Prune to maintain desired shape or for topiary; remove any dead or damaged growth.
Winter Care: In colder zones, protect from frost with mulch or move containers indoors.
Companion Plants: Rosemary, Thyme, Lavender, other Mediterranean herbs or evergreen shrubs.
