Light Needs
Mature Height
Mature Spread
Growing Zones
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.
Sicilian Sunshine® Sweet Bay Information
| USDA Hardiness Zones: 8-10 |
| Plant Type: Shrub |
| Sunlight Exposure: Partial Sun to Full Sun |
| Mature Height: 4 - 10 Feet |
| Mature Width: 6 - 10 Feet |
| Plant Spacing: 6 - 10 Feet |
| Growth Habit: Upright |
| Flower Color(s): White |
| Seasonal Interest: Grown for Foliage |
| Foliage Type: Evergreen |
| Foliage Color(s): Chartreuse to Gold |
| Resists: Deer |
| Features: Deadheading Not Necessary, Foliage Interest, Fragrant, Low Maintenance |
| Uses: Edible Herb Landscape Specimen or Focal Point |
| Plant Brand: Proven Winners |
| Botanical/Scientific Name: Laurus nobilis 'LNSS' |
Please Note: The pictures below are to give a general representation of the different container sizes. The actual size/ages of plants are estimates and will vary based on type of plant, time of year, last pruning & many other factors.
Also Known As:
Quart
Plant Age:
~ 6 months - 1 year
Plant Size:
~ 4"-8"
Pot Size:
~ 4.75"H x 4.5"W
Volume:
1.50 quarts
Also Known As:
2.5 Quart Pot
Plant Age:
~ 1 - 2 years old
Plant Size:
~ 8"-12"
Pot Size:
~ 6.5"H x 6.5"W
Volume:
2.20-2.30 quarts
Also Known As:
#1 Container
1 Gallon
Plant Age:
~ 1 - 2 years old
Plant Size:
~ 10"-14"
Pot Size:
~ 7"H x 7.75"W
Volume:
2.26-3.73 quarts
Also Known As:
#2 Container
2 Gallon
Plant Age:
~ 1.5 - 3 years old
Plant Size:
~ 12"-18"
Pot Size:
~ 9.5"H x 9.5"W
Volume:
1.19-1.76 gallons
Also Known As:
#3 Container
3 Gallon
Plant Age:
~ 2 - 4 years old
Plant Size:
~ 12"-30"
Pot Size:
~9.5"H x 11"W
Volume:
2.32-2.76 gallons
Also Known As:
#5 Container
5 Gallon
Plant Age:
~3-4 years old
Plant Size:
~ 20" - 60"
Pot Size:
~11" H x 10 1/2” W
Volume:
3.5 - 4 gallons
We stand behind our plants with industry-leading guarantees to give you peace of mind.
We want your plants to arrive in great condition! If you notice any issues upon delivery, contact us within 3 days.
Starting January 1, 2025 all bushes, perennials & trees purchased come with an extended 1-year warranty for added confidence. If your plant dies due to a health issue within a year, we’ll make it right.
Pre-ordered plants are scheduled to ship in Spring 2025. We carefully plan our shipping dates based on your USDA Plant Hardiness Zone to ensure optimal planting conditions upon arrival. Want it sooner/later? Reach out, and we'll try our best to accommodate.
Estimated ship week for pre-ordered plants will ship based on growing zones as shown below.
| Growing Zone | Estimated Ship Week |
|---|---|
| Zone 10 | March 31th |
| Zone 9 | March 31st |
| Zone 8 | April 7th |
| Zone 7 | April 14th |
| Zone 6b | April 21st |
| Zone 6a | April 28th |
| Zone 5b | May 5th |
| Zone 5a | May 12th |
| Zone 4 | May 19th |
| Zone 3 | May 26th |
Note: These are only estimated ship dates. Plants may ship out later depending on weather & growing conditions of the plant.
Note: Only plants indicated as pre-order will ship as shown above. All other plants and hard goods will ship as normal.
Plants that are currently in stock typically ship within 2-7 business days after your order is placed.
Plant Addicts ships to the lower 48 states within the U.S. Unfortunately, we do not currently ship to Alaska, Hawaii, or internationally.
This plant cannot be shipped to the following states: Idaho, AK, HI. These restrictions apply only to this specific plant due to agricultural regulations or other limitations. Other plants may still be available for shipping to these states.
If you have any questions about shipping restrictions, feel free to reach out to our team!