Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Type
Tree
Tree
Origin
Northeastern United States, Mid-Atlantic United States, Southeastern United States, South-Central United States
Central Asia, Eastern Europe, Europe, Nepal, Southern Asia, Southern Europe
Types
Cherry laurel, California Bay Laurel, Spotted laurel
Myristica fragrans
Number of Varieties
3150
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
Tropical regions
Cold Regions, Hills, Hillside
USDA Hardiness Zone
5-99-11
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
9-6
7-1
Sunset Zone
4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
1a, 1b, 2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21
Habit
Oval or Rounded
Oval or Rounded
Plant Size
Minimum Height
460.00 cm1,000.00 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
300.00 cm1,220.00 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
White, Ivory
-
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
Bicolor
Fruit Color
Orange Red
Green, Brown
Leaf Color in Spring
Green, Light Green, Blue Green, Silver
Green, Copper
Leaf Color in Summer
Green, Light Green, Blue Green, Silver
Dark Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Green, Yellow green, Tan, Silver
Green
Leaf Color in Winter
Green, Yellow green, Tan
Green
Shape
Leaf Shape
Oval
Oval
Thorns
✔
✘
✔
✘
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
All year
Growing Conditions
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Full Sun
Growth Rate
Medium
Medium
Type of Soil
Clay, Loam, Sand
Clay, Loam, Sand
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral
Acidic, Neutral
Soil Drainage
Average
Well drained
Bloom Time
Late Spring, Early Summer, Summer
Late Spring, Early Summer
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
Wet Site
-
Where to Plant?
Ground
Ground
How to Plant?
Grafting, Stem Planting
Budding, Seedlings
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Medium
Watering Plants
Watering Requirements
Do Not over Water, occasional watering once established
Requires watering in the growing season, Water Deeply, Water when top layer of soil becomes dry
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
Clay, Loam, Sand
Clay, Loam, Sand
Soil Drainage Capacity
Average
Well drained
Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Partial Sun, Partial shade
Pruning
Prune for shortening long shoots, Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
In Early Autumn, Prune to stimulate growth, Remove dead leaves
Fertilizers
fertilize in growing season
fertilize in spring, Nitrogen
Pests and Diseases
Beetles, Fusarium wilt, Rust, Scab
Anthracnose, Armillaria mellea, Blight, Caterpillars, Crown gall, Crown rot, fungus, Powdery mildew, Red blotch
Plant Tolerance
Drought, Salt and Soil Compaction, Shade areas
Drought, Frost
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
Medium
Foliage Sheen
Glossy
Glossy
Evergreen
✔
✘
✔
✘
Invasive
✔
✘
✔
✘
Self-Sowing
✔
✘
✔
✘
Attracts
Birds, Butterflies
Aphids, Bees, Beetles, Caterpillar, Small mammals
Allergy
allergic conjunctivitis, Nausea, wheezing
Abdominal distension, flushing of face, hallucinations, Headache, Pollen
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
Cottage Garden, Showy Purposes
-
Beauty Benefits
For treating wrinkles, Hair Conditioner, Making cosmetics
Good for skin and hair
Edible Uses
✔
✘
✔
✘
Environmental Uses
Air purification, Indoor Air Purification, Insect Repellent
Absorbs greenhouse gases, Absorbs huge amounts of CO2, Air purification, Amazing growth rate, Erosion control, Food for birds, Food for insects, Forms dense stands, Nesting sites for birds, Prevent Soil Erosion, Shadow Tree, Shelter for wildlife, Windbreak
Plant Benefits
Medicinal Uses
Acne, Cancer, Diarrhea, Emollient, Migraines, Oral health, treating poison ivy
Anemia, anti-cancer, Antispasmodic, Asthma, Diarrhea, Healing, Stomach spasms, Thoat infection
Part of Plant Used
Flowers, Leaf Stalks, Stem
Fruits, Seeds
Other Uses
Cosmetics, Culinary use, Florist trade and landscaping, Making Perfumes, Oil is used in perfume, soaps, creams, etc., Used as Ornamental plant
Making deodorants, Oil is used for aromatherapy, Oil is used in mosquito repellents, Used as a laxative, Used for its medicinal properties, Used for making soaps, Used in biomass
Used As Indoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Used As Outdoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Garden Design
Feature Plant, Foundation, Shade Trees
Container, Groundcover
Botanical Name
Laurus nobilis
Myristica fragrans
Common Name
Sweetbay
Nutmeg
In Hindi
Laurus nobilis
जायफल
In German
Echter Lorbeer
Muskatnuss
In French
Laurus nobilis
noix de muscade
In Spanish
Laurus nobilis
nuez moscada
In Greek
Laurus nobilis
μοσχοκάρυδο
In Portuguese
Loureiro
noz-moscada
In Polish
Wawrzyn szlachetny
gałka muszkatołowa
In Latin
Laurus nobilis
nutmeg
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Magnoliophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Laurales
Magnoliales
Family
Magnoliaceae
Poaceae
Genus
Laurus
Myristica
Clade
Angiosperms, Monocots
Angiosperms, Monocots
Tribe
Epidendreae
Myrteae
Subfamily
Epidendroideae
Myrtoideae
Number of Species
32
1
27800
👆🏻