Sicilian Sunshine® Sweet Bay

Light Needs

Partial Sun to Full Sun

(At Least 5 Hours of Direct Sunlight)

Mature Height

4-10 Feet

Mature Spread

6-10 Feet

Growing Zones

8 to 10

How long have those bay leaves been in your spice rack? Instead of guessing how old your spices are, why not just pick fresh bay leaves from Sicilian Sunshine® Sweet bay Laurus nobilis? No matter how you use it, either fresh or dry, spices always taste better homegrown. Its glossy green leaves are not only edible but also ornamental. Each leaf displays an array of shades ranging from golden yellow to dark green in color. Unbeknownst to others, this plant is the perfect ornamental decoy disguised as your culinary secret ingredient in your soup du jour.

This plant is not only an exceptional culinary herb but is native to the Mediterranean region. Typically these plants don’t tolerate hard frost very well. Sweet bay is hardy to zones 8 and above. In those warmer zones (8 and above), Sweet bay works well as an edible landscape shrub that typically reaches 4 to 10 feet in height and will thrive outdoors all year long. In zones 7 and below, this plant makes a wonderful indoor houseplant especially overwinter.

Sicilian Sunshine® Sweet Bay Care

Mediterranean herbs like Sweet bay thrive in bright, cool, well-draining environments. Laurus nobilis, requires full sun or at least 6 hours of sunlight daily. Its soil should be loamy, porous, and well-draining while receiving adequate consistent waterings. In conjunction with using a light potting soil mix, a cool indoor environment, and a bright southern facing window is a surefire recipe for indoor growing success.

Hard pruning is not recommended. Light prune when the plant is in a dormant state around late winter or early Spring. In conjunction with trimming, add a slow release fertilizer to help promote leaf growth.

Sicilian Sunshine® Sweet Bay Spacing

In the landscape, space plants at least 4 to 10 feet apart from each other. In containers use this plant as a thriller. Ensure that the container is at least 12 inches in diameter and 12 inches in depth to help promote healthy root growth and plant development.