Laurus nobilis – Standards (Common Bay)

Chupa Chups for your garden. Common Bay grown this way is the absolute quintessential bit of Classical posh and we love them in this form. Tight balls of deep green leaves atop good straight stems are the mark of a top notch specimen, and these ones are expertly-clipped, cultured and selected by our designers for their perfect globes and substantial trunks. Good height on them, too, which gives solid impact and a definite feel of maturity and gravity to a garden design. And so versatile,they have so many uses and work anywhere. It's all in the application: Very Serious and Traditional for a smart courtyard oozing in thyme and terracotta is nice, but we find their sculptural presence valuable in all sorts of settings where year-round structural interest is called for and an instant hit of antiquity is needed (even if your garden tends toward the more informal). Magic in pots, but do make them generous ones. Some shelter is a benefit in very cold regions but on the whole, wholly unfussy.