Chuck's Select True Laurel or Bay Laurel. This is the "bayleaf" of the culinary arts, and it makes an excellent large evergreen shrub. These plants are cutting grown from a selection made by Chuck Weeks, a former employee and great plantsman, which has the best fragrance. It also makes an excellent container plant for the patio and can be trained into a standard or sheared into an attractive cone or spiral. In 1985, this species froze to the ground here where temperatures reached -4°F, but recovered during the following growing season. In the Mediterranean area of Europe it is very popular to train this plant for containers whether as a standard, cone or woven spirals. Its flawless smooth bark is most attractive. I have seen some nurseries in England and Belgium that grow this species exclusively, training it into various forms for container specimens. This is the same laurel that is woven into wreaths to crown victors in athletic events.
Zones 8-10
