bay tree

[grubby mitts]

Hi

There is a small tree / shrub growing in my neighbours garden which is very close to the boundary wall. I think its a bay tree but I watched an old episode of gardeners world from last year (which I sky +, but have since deleted) and there was a similar shrub on there but wasn't a bay tree.
so i would like some help identifying it please as if i cook with an inedible tree who knows what could happen.
as long as i can get the pic up that is.

thanks in advance

Matthew

[Nicos]

As far as I am aware the Bay tree is an edible laurel.
If you take a leaf and scrunch it in your hand- and it smells strongly of bay- then it'll be bay- and safe to eat.

[northepaul]

It looks a bit like the laurel I have in the front garden - does it have any flower buds on it?

[Nicos]

Here's a bit more on ID...

Bay tree | Natural History Museum


( looks like a bay tree to me- just do the 'smell test')

[Munch]

If it is any help....

My mum used the 3 bay trees in our front garden for about 10 years, before my Aunt (horticulturalist) told her they were not bays

I am alive!

[grubby mitts]

thanks for the help, i'll go and have a look to see what the leaves smell like. there are quite a few buds on it right now. cant remember what the flowers llooked like last year tho.

[Newton]

A bay or not a bay.....that is the question. The leaf edges look smoother than my bay so I am not sure. Mine has small buds appearing at the moment too