How do you tell if you have a bay tree?

[Gryfon]

I have what I think is one in the garden, although we've just chopped about 8' of it off the top.

I've used the leaves a couple of times and not poisoned anyone! Is there anything in particular that I need to look out for? Every photo I've seen of the leaves, seeds etc look the same, but then mine was a 18' tree rather than a small tree.

Thanks

[vicky]

They grow into great big trees, dark green rather brittle looking leaves which are aromatic if crushed....do you have a photo? Or take a few leaves to a (good) garden centre, they'll be able to tell you!

[Gryfon]

I'll take a photo tomorrow. Although it's looking rather sorry for itself now! I think I just have two thick tree trunks and a few scraggly branches left It was shading a lot of the garden though.

[crichmond]

Here is a picture of what the leaves look like.

[Gryfon]

Thanks, will go and take a photo later and compare

[Nicos]

Bay Laurel, sweet bay or laurel tree, care and cultivation.

...up to 60ft high!!!!

There was a bay tree in Cardiff at one of the residential homes growing in a sheltered position- and it was about 12 ft x 6ft.
I imagine you are a bit warmer than Cardiff?

Crush the leaves in your hands- you'll have a very strong scent of bay left behind.
Laurel is poisonous ( and much bigger ,lighter coloured, rounder,shinier leaves)- so do be careful!

[Gryfon]

Just downloading some photos now. I did crush the leaves and it did smell but can't for the life of me decide if it smells of bay leaves

[Gryfon]

Ok now with photos!

[SarzWix]

It does look very bay-ish to me, where the leaves have gone brown in patches looks just like mine too.
Make sure you keep a good bagful of the leaves to dry for casseroles etc

[BrideXIII]

http://tbn3.google.com/images?q=tbn:...y-laurel-5.jpg

cherry laurel, the poisonous one, the leaves are as stated above rounder lighter and shinier.

[vicky]

That looks like a bay to me! Lucky you!

[Gryfon]

Thank you! Anyone want a few thousand leaves Think I may dry a batch later in Stanley, trouble is I never use that many!

And how can I stop the brown patches, anyone know?

[Flummery]

I'd say you have a bay tree! Mine is about 6 ft and is a bush because I keep it severely chopped back. I use it in cooking, flower arranging, Christmas decorations. It's a wonderful tree. I just love it. I think if you gave yours something of a hair-cut you could rejuvenate it. I'd do about a third of the branches. If they start to shoot from lower down - do another third next year till they're all shorter.