Need any bay leaves?

[Jerry]

Do Laurel trees grow in colder climates too?
The Giant colocasia from Thailand won't take sun, so this is a temporary shelter.  The Mamihot in front of it will provide lots if shade in a month.  This giant  leaf can get as big as a volkswagon!

[Sunbeam56]

Colocasia = elephant ear?

I only use bay leaves for pickling. But its good to have shade.
That laurel needs to grow before the volkswagen leaves overtake it. 

[Jerry]

Sunbeam, that's my bamboo in the background

[Sonny]

I have a plant I bought when I lived in NJ that was labeled 'Indian Laurel'.  It is not hardy and I used to have to bring it in each winter.  Once, when it got zapped by frost, it lost all its leaves and secondary branches.  Only the trunk remained alive.  Today, in Houston, it is thriving outdoors year round.  It's started to do the banyan thing and is putting down roots through the pavers in my driveway.

[Sunbeam56]

So your timber bamboo is a runner and not a clumper? 
How do you keep it in a straight line?
How cold tolerant is it?

Miracle grow, Jerry - the bamboo can fill out more than you have it.

[Sonny]

Jerry,

Here's a picture of my Laurel.  It's made many moves with me as I've had it for 25 years.  Although I've kept it in a container all this time it decided to put down roots here in Houston.  Lots of 'em.  Aerial as well as subterranean. 

[Jerry]

Sonny, love the trunk on your laurel  I see sego palms too.
Sun, it is a runner, but easy to control.  cut it close to the ground, and swab with round up
AT ONCE!  5 seconds max.

It may even kill a few adjoining stalks

[miguynmkoi]

OK so educate me....which laurel tree leaves make Bay leaves?   

[Jerry]

I have no idea there were many kinds.  Mine smells like it, especially when dry.

[Mikey]

I keep my bay leaf (Laurus nobilis) in a pot.  Grows nicely in a fairly large pot and takes a lot of abuse but looks better when it get adequate water.  It took a few years for the fetching one to remember we had fresh bay leaves outside.....