Throughout history, the bay has been honoured and revered for its aromatic properties and mystical origins.

Today the winners of the Grand Prix are awarded a wreath of bay leaves. In Italy, some college graduates wear bay leaf wreaths instead of mortarboards for graduation. Bay is used in psychic dream pillows and is also worn by healers to help purify a room. Standard size: this indicates the height to which the trunk has been cleared before the foliage head begins (based on bay tree guidelines). A half standard, then, will have less trunk height than a full standard. Bay leaves are used within a variety of different cuisines and recipes. From flavouring different types of meats to soups, stews and more they are very versatile in the kitchen. Add some extra soil into the bottom of the new pot before you insert the plant. We recommend John Innes number two for bay trees - with 10-20% added horticultural grit or perlite to improve drainage.

Bay Trees are easy to care for and look simply stunning in pots either side of a door or pathway. The lush foliage has a mouth-watering flavour and rich aroma and can be added to marinades or used to add depth to cooking all year long. Once trained by our specialists in the nursery, maintaining this shape should be easy, plus growing them will also provide you with a supply of fresh and fragrant bay leaves - what a treat!

We advise that you withhold water for a couple of days in advance to allow the soil to dry out slightly.

Potted trees can’t access nutrients in the same way that trees in the ground can, so feed regularly in the growing season

Hardiness: Mostly Hardy, can withstand temperatures down to -5°C. Bay trees may need extra protection from frost in winter, especially younger plants. One of the trees most often recommended for small gardens, amelanchiers are also one of the best garden trees for pots. Part of their appeal lies in their long season of interest: abundant racemes of starry white flowers in early spring are followed by bold copper coloured foliage which blazes brilliant red in autumn. In summer, the juneberries that give the tree its common name are popular with birds, making it a wildlife friendly choice too. Best trees in pots for screening

Shaped bay trees are most frequently grown in containers. They are often positioned as a duo to frame a door or create an artistic viewpoint on a patio. If you are growing your shaped bay in a container, select a large enough pot to allow for root growth. Add stones or broken pot pieces at the bottom for drainage, then add good quality multi-purpose compost. Carefully remove your shaped bay tree from its growing pot and position it in the container. Fill with compost so the soil in the container is at the same level asit was when it was growing in its pot. Water well. Pruning Bay trees are hardy down to around -5°C, however, as soon as temperatures drop close to 0°C we recommend moving your tree to somewhere more sheltered.