Bay Leaf Plant: How to Grow Bay Laurel in a Pot

Last updated September 30, 2026

Fresh bay leaves smell sweeter and more complex than the dried ones in a jar, and it’s easy to grow your own. The bay leaf plant (Laurus nobilis), also called bay laurel or sweet bay, is a slow-growing evergreen shrub from the Mediterranean. In most of the US it lives happily in a pot: outside in summer, inside by a sunny window in winter.

Bay laurel (Laurus nobilis) with glossy, leathery leaves — Photo: Forest and Kim Starr, CC BY 3.0 us, via Wikimedia Commons

Bay leaf plant (Laurus nobilis): Laurus nobilis — Photo: Petar43, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Bay laurel at a glance

Need	What works
Sun	Full sun to part shade outdoors; brightest window indoors
Water	When the top 1–2 inches of soil are dry
Soil	Well-draining potting mix; never soggy
Hardiness	Outdoors year-round in about zones 8–10
Growth	Slow; easy to keep 2–6 ft in a pot
Harvest	Pick mature leaves any time of year

Growing bay in a pot

Start with a young plant from a nursery. Bay grows slowly from seed and cuttings, so buying a plant saves you a year or two.

Choose a pot a few inches wider than the root ball, with a drainage hole. Bay likes being a bit snug.
Use a well-draining mix. Regular potting mix with some added perlite or fine bark works well.
Plant at the same depth it was growing before, and water well.
Find a sunny spot. Outdoors, full sun to part shade is best. In very hot summers, a little afternoon shade helps.

Repot every 2 to 3 years in spring, going up just one pot size. Bay can live for decades in a container.

Watering and feeding

Water when the top inch or two of soil is dry, then water until it drains. Outdoors in summer, that might be a couple of times a week. Indoors in winter, it could be every 1 to 2 weeks. Bay hates wet feet; soggy soil leads to yellow leaves and root rot.

Feed with a balanced liquid fertilizer at half strength once a month from spring to late summer. Skip feeding in fall and winter.

Bringing bay indoors for winter

Bay laurel can take a light frost, but a hard freeze kills it, and roots in a pot freeze faster than roots in the ground. If you live in zone 7 or colder, bring it in for winter.

Check for pests first

Look under the leaves and along the stems for scale (small brown bumps) and other bugs. Treat any you find before the plant comes inside.

Move it before nights hit freezing

Bring it in when nights drop into the low 30s °F.

Give it your sunniest window

A bright south- or west-facing window is best. A cool room, around 50 to 60°F, suits it better than a hot, dry one.

Water less

Growth slows in winter, so let the soil dry a bit more between waterings.

Move it back out in spring

Once frosts are over, put it outside in shade for a few days, then slowly move it into sun.

Pruning and shaping

Bay handles pruning well, which is why you’ll see it clipped into balls, cones and little standard “lollipop” trees. Prune in late spring or summer. Snip stems just above a leaf to keep the plant bushy and at the size you want. Every cutting is also a harvest.

How to harvest and dry bay leaves

You can pick bay leaves any time of year. Choose mature, dark green leaves; they have the most flavor. Young, pale new leaves are milder. Pick a few at a time so the plant keeps its shape.

Fresh leaves are stronger than dried ones, so use about half as many. To dry them, lay leaves in a single layer on a paper towel or rack in a warm, dry, shady spot for 1 to 2 weeks, until they snap. Store in a sealed jar away from light. Dried leaves keep their flavor for about a year.

Pests and problems

What you see	Likely cause	What to do
Brown bumps, sticky leaves, black sooty mold	Scale insects	Scrape off; wipe with soapy water; horticultural oil
Curled, thickened, yellowish leaf edges	Bay sucker (psyllid)	Pick off affected leaves; spray with insecticidal soap
Yellow leaves, wet soil	Overwatering	Let soil dry more; check drainage
Brown, crispy leaves in winter	Dry indoor air or cold damage	Move away from heaters; protect from hard frost
Leaf drop after coming indoors	Change in light	Normal adjustment; give it the brightest spot

Propagating bay

Bay is slow to root, but it can be done. In late summer, take 4-inch cuttings from new growth that’s starting to firm up. Strip the lower leaves, dip in rooting hormone, and push into a mix of potting soil and perlite. Keep it warm and humid under a clear plastic cover. Roots can take 1 to 3 months, so be patient.

Bay leaf plant FAQs

Can I grow a bay leaf plant indoors?

Yes, in your sunniest window. Most US gardeners keep bay in a pot, outside in summer and indoors for winter.

How fast does a bay leaf plant grow?

Slowly, usually just a few inches to a foot a year in a pot. That makes it easy to keep small.

When can I pick bay leaves?

Any time of year. Mature, dark green leaves have the best flavor.

Are fresh bay leaves stronger than dried?

Yes. Use about half as many fresh leaves as dried ones.

Is a bay leaf plant the same as a laurel hedge?

No. Many hedge “laurels,” such as cherry laurel, are different plants and are toxic. Only Laurus nobilis is the cooking bay leaf.

Sources and further reading

ASPCA Animal Poison Control, Bay laurel
North Carolina State Extension, Laurus nobilis plant profile
Wikipedia, Laurus nobilis