True Laurel, Bay Laurel, Sweet Bay, Grecian Laurel               LA-rus NO-bil-is

• Broadleaf evergreen shrub, grows slowly to 12-40(60) ft (4-12(18) m) tall, multi-stemmed, broad-based with a gradually tapering cone.  Leaves simple, alternate, leathery, aromatic (the bay leaf used in cooking), narrowly elliptic to ovate, 5-10 cm long and 2.0-4.5 cm wide, margin often undulate, glossy dark green above, glabrous below.  Dioecious - male and female plants.  Flowers small, yellow-green, in clusters.  Fruit about 1.2 cm, ovoid, shiny black.
• Full sun or partial shade.  Soil adaptable, but requires good drainage.  Can be grown as a hedge, makes an excellent formal container plant.
• Hardy to USDA Zone 8      Native to the Mediterranean region.
• Laurus: Latin name for this species.    nobilis: notable.