Bay leaves

A bay tree is a most useful plant in any garden. It's decorative, evergreen, and the leaves are fantastic for flavouring soups, stews and other hot dishes.

I bought a 3 inch high seedling about 3 or 4 years ago and transplanted it to a 30cm pot filled with compost. It's now about 4 feet high and is just about to spring into growth again.

Bays are not fast growing but my tree is nice and bushy and if it stayed as it is I'd probably have a lifetimes supply of bay leaves. Apparently bays can reach 12 metres in height.

I find that fresh bay leaves are far superior and stronger in flavour than the dried up leaves available commercially. I only put one leaf in soup or stew and the flavour is fantastic.

I'll plant my small tree in the ground once I've found a spot for it.