Forum home› Plants

Bay plant

somersetroadqsomersetroadq Posts: 3
in Plants

Is there more than one type of Bay plant? I know my plant is a Bay, but I'm afraid to use it in my cooking just in case there is more than one type and one isn't for culinary use. I bought it quite a few years ago at the market in Ludlow. Thanks

«1

Posts

  • Kitty 2Kitty 2 Posts: 5,150

    I have a standard (lollipop) bay "Laurus nobilis", we pick off the leaves for cooking but dry them first for a better flavour. I simply wash the leaves and leave them to dry on a piece of kitchen paper on a sunny widowsill.

    The RHS only seems to have 3 cultivars listed, looks like they're all edible.

    https://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/profile?PID=251

  • nutcutletnutcutlet Posts: 27,142

    If it is bay, Laurus nobilis, it will make no difference which cultivar it is.

    A confusion of names exists between

    Laurus noblis, aka bay is also known as Bay Laurel

    Prunus laurocerasus, known as laurel, is poisonous



    In the sticks near Peterborough
  • Kitty 2Kitty 2 Posts: 5,150

    I didn't even think about Laurel nut, you raise a good point there. I have a small Portuguese laurel and the leaves can look quite similar to bay.

    The OP said "I know my plant is a bay", a sniff of the crushed leaves should confirm the plants ID.

    Feel free to post a pic somersetroadq if you're unsureimage

  • nutcutletnutcutlet Posts: 27,142

    I wouldn't have though of that one Kitty but not long ago someone posted here and they had got their bays and laurels confused. As you say, there is a resemblance between the Portugal Laurel, (which I call Prunus lusitanicus so I won't be confused) and Laurus nobilis (which I call bay when I need a jar of leaves from the SM). image

    I have a huge bay bush and I buy dried bay leavesimage



    In the sticks near Peterborough
  • Kitty 2Kitty 2 Posts: 5,150

    Tsk nut, buying soooopermarket leavesimage  you're full of surprises.

    I bet you could pick a decades worth of leaves off your bay and not even make a dent in itimage

  • nutcutletnutcutlet Posts: 27,142

    yes, it's trueimage

    Ditto parsley,sage, rosemary and thyme.

    Wasn't there a songimage



    In the sticks near Peterborough
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 83,732

    Glad you're keeping Mr Tesco in the manner to which he's become accustomed Nut, or is it Mr Sainsbugs? image


    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • nutcutletnutcutlet Posts: 27,142

    Sainsbury and Aldi, Dove

    I am deeply ashamedimage



    In the sticks near Peterborough
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 83,732

    And so you should be image  

    Sage would be very happy on that sunny gravelly bit by your greenhouse  - I wonder if I've still got some rooted cuttings left .... image


    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • nutcutletnutcutlet Posts: 27,142

    That gravelly bit is a membrane over some very stiff soil Dove. It used to be where I lined up all the babies in their pots. I've got some purple sage and may have a green one somewhere. 2 rosemary bushes and lots of thyme.

    I wouldn't turn down a rooted cutting though if you did find you had spareimage please.



    In the sticks near Peterborough
Sign In or Register to comment.