"Doug Freyburger" > wrote in message
...
> Janet wrote:
>>
>> I grow it (laurus nobilis) in the garden and pick leaves to dry and
>> store for kitchen use. The dry ones have a more intense flavour than
>> fresh, imho.
>
> It's a sub-tropical plant, right?

Not at all!

Bay is hardy outdoors -9C which is what we get here - but that is frost, not
snow. I have 3 plants in my garden in big pots and the pots havent' been
moved or touched ofr many years but sit out in exposed positions.

Janet lives in Scotland so couldn't be described as 'sub-tropical'


consider either a Turkish or California bay (two very different plants)
> as a house plant here is Chicago metro.

If you could find and external wall of your house that is south facing and
doesn't get snow cover, try to grow common Bay in a big pot. It doesn't
mind cold (well at least a certain amount of cold) but may not like snow
cover for months of the year.