Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Type
Tender Perennial
Tree
Origin
Southeastern Asia, India, Melanesia, Micronesia
Northeastern United States, Mid-Atlantic United States, Southeastern United States, South-Central United States
Types
Variegata Dwarf, Variegata Chinese Beauty
Cherry laurel, California Bay Laurel, Spotted laurel
Number of Varieties
203
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
Tropical regions
Tropical regions
USDA Hardiness Zone
8-155-9
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
12-5
9-6
Sunset Zone
H1, H2, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
Habit
Clump-Forming
Oval or Rounded
Plant Size
Minimum Height
180.00 cm460.00 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
120.00 cm300.00 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
White, Red, Light Pink
White, Ivory
Flower Color Modifier
Multi-Color
Bicolor
Fruit Color
-
Orange Red
Leaf Color in Spring
Dark Green
Green, Light Green, Blue Green, Silver
Leaf Color in Summer
Dark Green
Green, Light Green, Blue Green, Silver
Leaf Color in Fall
Dark Green
Green, Yellow green, Tan, Silver
Leaf Color in Winter
Dark Green
Green, Yellow green, Tan
Shape
Leaf Shape
Lance shaped
Oval
Thorns
✔
✘
✔
✘
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Growing Conditions
Sunlight
Partial Sun, Partial shade
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Growth Rate
Fast
Medium
Type of Soil
Loam, Sand
Clay, Loam, Sand
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral
Acidic, Neutral
Soil Drainage
Average
Average
Bloom Time
Late Spring, Early Summer, Summer
Late Spring, Early Summer, Summer
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
Drought
Wet Site
Where to Plant?
Container, Ground, Pot
Ground
How to Plant?
By dividing rhizomes, tubers
Grafting, Stem Planting
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Medium
Watering Plants
Watering Requirements
Requires plenty of water during the growing season
Do Not over Water, occasional watering once established
In Summer
Lots of watering
Lots of watering
In Spring
Moderate
Moderate
In Winter
Average Water
Average Water
Soil
Soil pH
Acidic, Neutral
Acidic, Neutral
Soil Type
Loam, Sand
Clay, Loam, Sand
Soil Drainage Capacity
Average
Average
Sun Exposure
Partial Sun, Partial shade
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Pruning
Cut off the flower stalks at the base of the plant, Remove dead leaves, Remove dead or diseased plant parts
Prune for shortening long shoots, Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
Fertilizers
Apply 8-4-6 amount
fertilize in growing season
Pests and Diseases
-
Beetles, Fusarium wilt, Rust, Scab
Plant Tolerance
Drought
Drought, Salt and Soil Compaction, Shade areas
Flowers
Showy
Showy
Flower Petal Number
Single
Single
Fruits
Showy Fruit
✔
✘
✔
✘
Edible Fruit
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrance
Fragrant Flower
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrant Fruit
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrant Leaf
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrant Bark/Stem
✔
✘
✔
✘
Showy Foliage
✔
✘
✔
✘
Showy Bark
✔
✘
✔
✘
Foliage Texture
Coarse
Coarse
Foliage Sheen
Glossy
Glossy
Evergreen
✔
✘
✔
✘
Invasive
✔
✘
✔
✘
Self-Sowing
✔
✘
✔
✘
Attracts
Butterflies
Birds, Butterflies
Allergy
Rash
allergic conjunctivitis, Nausea, wheezing
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
Showy Purposes
Cottage Garden, Showy Purposes
Beauty Benefits
Good for skin
For treating wrinkles, Hair Conditioner, Making cosmetics
Edible Uses
✔
✘
✔
✘
Environmental Uses
Air purification
Air purification, Indoor Air Purification, Insect Repellent
Plant Benefits
Medicinal Uses
Antiulcerogenic, Diuretic, Hypotensive
Acne, Cancer, Diarrhea, Emollient, Migraines, Oral health, treating poison ivy
Part of Plant Used
Leaves, Rhizomes
Flowers, Leaf Stalks, Stem
Other Uses
Can be made into a herbal tea, Leaves used for wrapping zongi, Used to flavour noodles, Used to wrap mochi rice cakes
Cosmetics, Culinary use, Florist trade and landscaping, Making Perfumes, Oil is used in perfume, soaps, creams, etc., Used as Ornamental plant
Used As Indoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Used As Outdoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Garden Design
Container, Cutflower, Mixed Border, Screening / Wind Break, Tropical
Feature Plant, Foundation, Shade Trees
Botanical Name
ALPINIA zerumbet
Laurus nobilis
Common Name
Shell Ginger
Sweetbay
In Hindi
Shell Ginger
Laurus nobilis
In German
Shell Ginger
Echter Lorbeer
In French
Shell Ginger
Laurus nobilis
In Spanish
Shell jengibre
Laurus nobilis
In Greek
Shell Τζίντζερ
Laurus nobilis
In Portuguese
Shell Ginger
Loureiro
In Polish
Shell Imbir
Wawrzyn szlachetny
In Latin
Crusta Ginger
Laurus nobilis
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Magnoliophyta
Class
Lilopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Zingiberales
Laurales
Family
Zingiberaceae
Magnoliaceae
Genus
Alpinia
Laurus
Clade
Angiosperms, Commelinids, Monocots
Angiosperms, Monocots
Tribe
Alpinieae
Epidendreae
Subfamily
Alpinioideae
Epidendroideae
Number of Species
1503
1
27800
👆🏻