Laurus nobilis

The bay tree or bay laurel (Laurus nobilis) is that large, dried leaf you have in your spice drawer that you put in tomato sauces and soups to add a fragrant herbal sweetness to your dish. The plant itself is a beautiful evergreen shrub or tree with deep green, leathery leaves that are gorgeously aromatic when crushed. Solidly hardy in coastal BC, it can be grown elsewhere in Canada protected as a houseplant in a bright, cool room. Fresh bay leaves are way better than dried. Allow it to grow as a shrub or prune it into any shape you want and keep it to any size you like depending on your situation.