Bay Trees. Funky. Formal. Fabulous

Coming from the polytunnel towards the main building the view was taken with lots of lovely Laurus nobilis on spiral stems, in standard form and cones.  The shapes always make me think of Alice in Wonderland and the Mad Hatters Tea Party with the wild shapes. 

The aromatic foliage and clean clear stems make bay trees a favourite for container gardening and nothing has changed over the many years these trees have been available.  A great plant for creating a formal look, a funky look and even for using as a hedging alternative. 

Easy to clip into shape and essential for any herb borders.  If you plant to put a Laurus nobilis in a container use as much John Innes 3 as possible as this will sustain the plant for a year or two happily.

      

Double spiral stem                         Single spiral stem                       Standards, half standards and quarter standards