Description

Saratoga Laurel (Laurus ‘Saratoga’) is a horticultural hybrid of the Sweet Bay (Laurus nobilis) with a slightly smaller and more open form. It can reach up to 40’ tall and 15’-30’ wide. The Saratoga is resistant to the insect pests psyllid and soft-shell scale. Like its parent species, the Saratoga Laurel leaves can be used for seasoning. It has clusters of small yellow flowers in the spring, but it does not produce fruit. This tree can be a multi-trunk or standard tree that can be pruned for the first few years to encourage growth in the desired direction but should be maintained by a licensed arborist once it reaches maturity. These should be planted about five feet from hardscape and structures, such as houses and buildings, and not near any powerlines. It can be irrigated for about 30 minutes twice a week, or 45 minutes once a week when using most in-line drip irrigation systems.