Laurus nobilis Little Ragu - Bay Laurel

Laurus nobilis 'Little Ragu' is a bay tree with a more compact habit than the wild form. The very aromatic evergreen foliage, shaded in gold on and borne on red stalks when young, will perfume your cooking. It is a very adaptable plant, resistant to heat and drought. While its hardiness can be found wanting in a cold climate, the bay tree is also capable of enduring severe pruning and growing back from the stump.

The Bay tree, the "noble Laurel", belongs to the Lauraceae family and is by far the most well-known member of this family, which includes many interesting but still not widespread woody species such as Sassafras, Lindera or Neolitsea. The bay tree is a large bush or small tree native to the Mediterranean Basin and Asia Minor, where it favours the hot, dry and open ecosystem called mattoral, though it can also be found in riparian zones. The dark green evergreen foliage, very familiar, is highly aromatic and has been used for a long time in the making of the culinary herb preparation known as bouquets garnis, used alongside thyme, rosemary and other herbs to perfume dishes. Be careful not to confuse it with the Cherry Laurel (Prunus laurocerasus), a species from the Rosaceae family often used in hedges, or with the Oleander (Nerium oleander), as both are extremely toxic. Between March and April the bay tree produces small yellow-green flowers, which on female plants (and in the right climate)  will yield small black non-edible berries. The stems are dark green, almost black, becoming greyer as they thicken.

'Little Ragu' is a variety with a fairly compact habit: while the wild species can exceed 8 m (26 ft) in height in the right climate, this one will not exceed 1.50 to 2 m (5 to 7 ft) in height and about 1.50 m (5 ft) in width. The young foliage of 'Little Ragu', carried by elegant petioles and reddish stems, is a beautiful golden green at budding, then darkens until it takes the typical dark green colour of bay trees. It is also narrower and more elongated than the foliage of the wild type, but just as aromatic.

The Noble Laurel 'Little Ragu', due to its Mediterranean origins, is capable of enduring dry and hot periods without flinching. Its hardiness remains relatively limited, and is estimated around -10/-12°C (14/10.4 °F), even if a well-established and sheltered bush can actually withstand -15°C (5 °F) without problem. At worst, the plant will lose its branches and grow back from the stump (which also allows it to be occasionally cut back hard). In any case, they prefer to be sheltered from cold winds, in a bright and warm spot, in very well-drained or even stony soil, but not too poor. Furthermore, the bay tree tolerates pruning very well, even hard pruning, and it can easily be shaped into topiary. It is also very easy to take cuttings from it, using cut branches or by taking offshoots at the base.

Perfect in Mediterranean or exotic themed gardens, the bay tree 'Little Ragu' will provide a colourful backdrop for your flower beds. It can even be used as an evergreen hedge, remembering to protect it well from cold winds. Its compactness also makes it appropriate for a large pot, which can be brought indoors in winter if severe frost is expected, allowing you to decorate a patio or balcony while enjoying its aroma!