Featured Plant: Bay Laurel (Laurus nobilis).

Every year since 1995, the International Herb Association (IHA) has designated the Herb of the Year. We’ve learned to appreciate fennel, calendula, scented geraniums and lemon balm. The Herb of the Year for 2009 is Bay Laurel or Sweet Bay (Laurus nobilis).

Bay leaves were always mysterious to me as a child. It might as well have been the eye of knut coming out of that jar, the way you always took only one or two leaves and always had to remove them before eating. I’m not sure my palette is sensitive enough to tell when bay has been used, but I’ve always thought it was a beautiful plant.

I bought a small seedling, during my Tuscany phase. It’s been about 14 years now and the 6" seedling topped 6', before I let it get too dry and had to cut back a couple of feet of growth. But I still gladly drag it in for the winter and out for the summer, just to have my touch of the Mediterranean. Except for keeping its shallow roots well watered, bay is easy to grow. In a container, it remains a manageable size, especially if you keep pruning leaves for cooking. They make excellent patio trees, herb garden focal points and sun room additions. Here are some tips for growing sweet bay.

Photo Provided by sanja gjenero / stock.xchng.