• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Monthly Checklist
  • Container Garden Design
  • Garden Coaching
  • Five ★★★★★ Speaker’s Topics
  • Portfolio

Hoosier Gardener

An informed, yet personal take on natural gardening in Indiana and other dirty topics.

An informed, yet personal take on natural gardening in Indiana and other dirty topics.
  • Home
  • Services
    • Container Garden Design
    • Garden Coaching
    • Writing & Editing
    • Virtual Talks These Days
  • Indiana Gardening Resources
    • Join The Hoosier Gardeners!
    • Monthly Gardening Checklist
    • Hoosier Gardener Blog
    • HortusScope
  • About
  • Contact
  • Shop

January 31, 2009 By Jo Ellen Meyers Sharp

Bay leaf honored as 2009 Herb of the Year

From Greek mythology to the kitchen, bay leaves have savory history.  © Fotolia

From Greek mythology to the kitchen, bay leaves have savory history. © Fotolia

A savory, aromatic leaf that is the staple of soups and stews is celebrated as the 2009 Herb of the Year.

A native of the Mediterranean region, bay leaf (Laurus nobilis), sometimes called sweet bay is an evergreen shrub or tree with sturdy, waxy leaves. It is a basic ingredient in soups, stews, sauces and roasting, and has long been valued for its medicinal uses. It’s also an element in Greek mythology in the tale of Daphne, Apollo, spurned love and its consequences. Daphne was turned into a bay tree to avoid the unwanted advances of Apollo.

“Apollo was so astounded by the tree’s beauty that he claimed the laurel as his own and dedicated it to reward the highest achievements of Greek civilization. Bay was first an herb of poets, but also of oracles, warriors, statesmen and doctors. The leaves were made into wreaths for illustrious poets; thus, the term poet laureate, and the ancients used the leaves to crown heroes. Bay laurel was the symbol of wisdom, both acquired and intuitive,” according to the February/March 2009 issue of the Herb Companion .

Bay leaf has been used as an herbal treatment for stomach- and headaches, muscle pain, colds and inflammation. It is known to have antibacterial and antifungal properties.

Most of the time, we buy this herb dried and packaged at the grocery, spice stores or farmers markets. Rarely do we see this plant in garden centers, but last summer, I saw small specimens of sweet bay in three-inch pots in the herb section at a retailer, marked for sale at $7.99. Unfortunately, this tender, woody plant is not winter hardy in Indiana.

You could grow it outdoors in summer in a pot with well-drained soil in full sun, then harvest and dry the leaves at the end of the season. Or, winter it over indoors in a bright, sunny location.

There are several plants with the common names laurel, bay or sweet bay, some of which are poisonous, so for food, stick with Laurus nobilis.

Resources:

  • The Herb Companion
  • Herb Society of America
  • Herb Society of Central Indiana

Filed Under: Hoosier Gardener Tagged With: aromatic, bay leaf, herb, Mediterranean

Primary Sidebar

Get the Hoosier Gardener Newsletter

Follow Us!

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter

Recent Posts

December garden checklist

Holidays When shopping for a fresh-cut Christmas tree, check for green, ...

[Read More...]

The play’s the thing to support GardenComm

End of year fundraiser for GardenComm.org, A Betrothal.

You know me. I don't sell stuff, but I want to share with you info about a ...

[Read More...]

Buy local: Tips for fresh cut Christmas tree selection, care

For all of us, 2020 has been the year from – as my mom would say – H E double ...

[Read More...]

November garden checklist

Indoors Houseplant growth will slow so apply less fertilizer and water. ...

[Read More...]

Footer

Quick Links

Shop
Speaking
Container Garden Design
Monthly Gardening Checklist
Contact

Get the Hoosier Gardener Newsletter

Contact

Jo Ellen Meyers Sharp
The Hoosier Gardener
thehoosiergardener@gmail.com

Copyright © 2021 · Hoosier Gardener - All Rights Reserved · Privacy Policy · Terms of Service ·Sitemap

Affiliate disclosure: Amazon links are affiliate links and Jo Ellen will receive a small commission from items purchased via the links.