Laurus Nobilis 'Miles Choice'

Bay Laurel (Bay Tree/Sweet Bay)

Botanical Name: Laurus nobilis 'Miles Choice'
Family: Lauraceae
Origin: Mediterranean (southern Europe to western Asia)
Plant Type: Evergreen shrub/small tress

Overview

A compact, upright culinary bay selected for denser, tidier hedging and aromatic foliage. ‘Miles Choice’ keeps a neat shape with clipping, shows pale yellow spring flowers, and handles South Australian heat, coastal winds and dry summers once established—ideal for low-maintenance structure, formal hedges and statement pots.

Key Features

• Mature Size: 6-7 m H x 3-4 m W; easily maintained at 1–3 m as a hedge/topiary with regular clipping
• Growth Rate: 15-30 cm per year under good conditions
• Foliage: Glossy, leathery dark green, strongly aromatic leaves for cooking; new growth often bronzy before maturing
• Flowers: Small pale yellow clusters in spring (Sept–Oct in SA); female plants may set black berries
  
• Seasonal Interest: Evergreen structure year-round; yellow spring bloom and (on female plants) decorative black berries; clipped forms stay crisp through summer heat and winter alike
• Wildlife Value: Spring flowers provide nectar and pollen for bees and pollinators
• Tolerance: Heat-Tolerant, Drought-Tolerant (once established), Coastal-Tolerant (salt & sea breeze), Wind-Tolerant (shelter while young), Frost Hardy (light–moderate), Clay-Tolerant (well-drained clay loams; avoid waterlogging)
• Planting Density: Shrub borders/hedges: 0.6–1.0 m apart for a dense screen, or 1.2–1.5 m for a looser effect. (Adjust tighter for faster fill at low hedge heights.)
• Pet Friendly: Not pet-safe if ingested — toxic to cats, dogs and horses (essential oils incl. eugenol). Keep leaves/prunings away from pets

Where It Works Best

• Sunlight: Full sun to part shade (full sun = denser growth, more flavour)
• Soil: Well-drained loam/sandy loam/clay loam; avoid waterlogging
• Water Needs: Establishment: 2 deep soaks/week for 8-12 weeks. Established: deep soak every 10-14 days in summer; monthly in winter if dry.
• Maintenance: Clip in late winter or lightly through the warm season to maintain shape; slow-release feed in early spring; excellent in containers and as standards/topiary
• Lifespan: 15-25+ years
• Climate Zones: Suited to temperate and Mediterranean SA gardens, including coastal areas
• Soil pH: Neutral–alkaline preferred; tolerates slightly acidic if drainage is good

Landscape & Design Ideas

• Formal hedges and clipped standards to frame entries, courtyards and driveways
• Statement pots (balls, cones, spirals) flanking doors and terraces
• Kitchen garden essential: harvest mature leaves fresh or dried (remove from dishes before serving)

Why You Will Love It

‘Miles Choice’ gives year-round evergreen structure and culinary leaves on demand in a compact, easy-to-shape package—tough enough for SA heat and coastal sites, refined enough for formal hedges and topiary.