How to Propagate Bay Laurel From Cuttings

Bay trees are so beautiful that I sometimes forget the leaves are also an essential culinary herb.

And every time I do pluck a leaf from my tree to toss in a recipe, I think to myself, “I wish I had more of these in my garden.”

I bought a second tree, but I’ll admit it, I still wanted more.

I got greedy for bays galore, but they’re not cheap, since producing healthy plants that are ready for transplanting is a labor-intensive process.

That’s when I decided to propagate more of my own bay trees from cuttings.

A close up vertical image of bay laurel foliage growing in the garden. To the top and bottom of the frame is green and white printed text.

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I wish I could tell you that the process is quick and easy, but I won’t lie. Propagating bay trees takes time and patience, no matter what method you choose, and it’s likely that a majority of your cuttings will fail.

On the bright side, you’ll probably have better luck rooting cuttings than you might if you try growing bay from seed

For those with a passion for gardening, it’s well worth the effort. 

This guide will help set you up so you can grow new bay trees from cuttings without much trouble.

Here’s what we’ll discuss ahead:

When to Take Stem Cuttings

To begin, you will take stem cuttings in mid to late summer.

You want to select semi-hardwood branches, with wood that is still green and pliable. Avoid woody branches or thin new stems. 

A close up horizontal image of a branch of a bay laurel with the leaves intact set on a white surface.
Photo by Kristine Lofgren.

You might get lucky and your first attempt will succeed, but I recommend taking far more than you think you’ll need to improve your chances of success.

If you have the space, take a dozen, and expect a couple to survive.

Preparing the Cuttings

Ready to get started? Here’s how to find the right stem.

First, choose a healthy, mature plant to propagate, one that shows no obvious signs of disease or pest infestation.

A side shoot stem that is about six inches in length is ideal. It should be at least as thick as a phone charging cord. 

A close up horizontal image of the stem of a bay laurel tree pictured on a soft focus background.
Photo by Kristine Lofgren.

While you can cut the stem completely off at an angle, I find that heel cuttings tend to be more successful. 

What’s a heel cutting? It’s when you leave a little tail of bark from the main plant attached to your stem length, rather than slicing it clean through.

A heel cutting is better for propagating difficult plants because it includes more of the cambium layer, where plants take root, and there are more auxins present, a hormone that regulates plant growth and promotes rooting.

To take a heel cutting, start with clippers or a knife that has been cleaned in a 1:10 mixture of bleach and water. 

A close up horizontal image of a hand from the left of the frame using a knife to cut through a stem.
Photo by Kristine Lofgren.

Make a small cut in the top of the off-shoot about a third to halfway through. 

Then, gently bend and pull the off-shoot the rest of the way off the main shoot. 

A close up horizontal image of a hand from the left of the frame bending the cut branch of a semi hardwood stem pictured on a soft focus background.

You want to remove about half an inch or so of heel. 

If you get too much, just trim the excess off.

A close up horizontal image of a bay laurel stem set on a white surface ready for rooting in soil.
Photo by Kristine Lofgren.

Now you should have at least six inches of stem with the leaves attached. Repeat as desired to get a good number of stem lengths for rooting.

After you take your cuttings, either plant them right away, or place the cut ends in a jar of water to keep them fresh and minimize moisture loss. 

Before you put them in the soil, remove all but the top two or three leaves. You can use the leaves you’ve removed right away in your cooking, or dry them for use later. 

A close up horizontal image of a section of stem with leaves removed set on a white surface.
Photo by Kristine Lofgren.

If the remaining leaves are large, cut a third of the length off of each one.

We remove leaves to reduce the amount of moisture that is lost by the plant, which gives us a better chance for success. 

Planting in Soil

Before putting them in the soil, be sure to do a little basic prepwork.

If you aren’t using brand new growing containers, be sure to clean them in a bleach solution, as described above. Only use fresh soil, or soil that you have sterilized in an oven or microwave. 

The best medium is a potting mix with perlite and coco coir mixed in. Tank’s Pro-Lite Seeding and Potting Mix is perfect, with a combination of coconut husks, compost, and perlite.

A close up vertical image of a plastic bag of Tank's Pro Lite Seedling and Potting Mix isolated on a white background.

Tank’s Pro-Lite Seeding and Potting Mix

You can buy some at Arbico Organics in 16-quart bags.

After you have stripped the leaves, dip the end of each cutting in a rooting hormone like Bontone’s Rooting Powder. It’s a reliable option that has always worked well for me.

A close up vertical image of a plastic bottle of Bonide Bontone Powdered Rooting Hormone isolated on a white background.

Bonide Bontone Powdered Rooting Hormone

Arbico Organics also carries this handy gardening essential, available in 1.25-ounce containers.

Place the cutting in a four-inch container filled with your potting mix. 

Poke a hole in the soil and insert the cutting about halfway up the stem. Firm the soil up around it so that it stays upright.

Repeat with the rest of your cuttings, placing them in their own individual containers.

Give the soil a good soaking so that it feels like a well wrung-out sponge. You want the soil to stay about this moist while your new plants are rooting.

A close up vertical image of a small potted bay laurel stem with chopsticks placed beside it to hold up a plastic greenhouse pictured on a soft focus background.
Photo by Kristine Lofgren.

Cover with a cloche or clear plastic to help retain moisture. One of the easiest methods for this is to use a plastic bag and a few long sticks. 

Place the sticks around the edge of the container and lower the bag over them. The sticks will hold the plastic away from the plants. 

A close up vertical image of a potted bay laurel tree with a plastic bag to provide humidity.
Photo by Kristine Lofgren.

Place in an area that receives six to eight hours of indirect light. A north-facing window is ideal. 

While you could keep them outside, ideal air temperatures for this process need to be right around 60°F, so for most people, an indoor spot works best. 

Gradually reduce the amount of time that the plant is covered in plastic to acclimate it to the level of humidity in your area.

For the first month, leave the plastic in place full-time. For the next few weeks, remove it for an hour or so a day. Then, remove it for a few more hours each day over the next few weeks.

After a few months, though some may have failed, at least a few cuttings should have developed new roots. If you give a gentle tug, those that have rooted will resist. 

At that time, you can remove the plastic entirely, and you can allow the top of the soil to dry out in between watering. 

The plants will eventually begin to develop new leaves. Let this happen naturally rather than pinching new growth off. 

Transplanting

In the fall, so long as you have successfully rooted cuttings with new growth, you can put them in the ground. 

Harden them off gradually over a few weeks. On the first day, put the plants outside for a half hour in a sheltered area with indirect light.

Add an hour the next day, an additional hour the following day, and continue until they are outside for seven hours a day. 

Then, move them into direct sunlight for an hour, two hours the next day, and so on. The goal is to get your plants used to full sunlight before putting them in the ground or in a new container. 

For more information on how to transplant, head on over to our guide on transplanting bay laurels

Troubleshooting

Don’t despair if some of your cuttings don’t make it. There are lots of reasons why they will fail to take.

Plants that don’t receive enough moisture or that are placed in direct sunlight will be more likely to fail. 

Be sure to check the soil moisture level every single day. You should also check frequently to see if the sun is starting to hit your plants.

You may have positioned them well initially, but as the seasons change, the sun’s position will too.

Some that fail may have contracted root rot, which thrives in moist conditions. This disease is caused by water molds in the Phytophthora genus.

Most of the time, your cutting will simply die without displaying any obvious symptoms. But you may also see wilting, yellowing, or a general lack of vigor.

To avoid root rot in the future, be absolutely sure you’re using clean, disinfected containers, soil, and tools.

Also, don’t take cuttings from any plant that shows signs of disease, and take care not to overwater.

Bring Your New Baby Bay to Life

That wasn’t so hard, right? I know it takes a little extra effort than purchasing a mature plant, but once you have the general idea, you’ll become better and better at propagating bays (and other semi-hardwood plants as well!). 

A close up horizontal image of a bay laurel stem growing in the garden pictured on a soft focus background.

I can’t wait to hear about all the success you’re sure to have. If you run into any trouble, come let us know in the comments section below and we’ll see if we can help.

Now that you’ve tackled one of the more difficult plants to propagate, check out our guide to growing bay laurel to brush up on how to care for your new plants.

And why not head over to some of our other propagation articles to learn how to expand your garden:

Photo of author
Kristine Lofgren is a writer, photographer, reader, and gardening lover from outside Portland, Oregon. She was raised in the Utah desert, and made her way to the rainforests of the Pacific Northwest with her husband and two dogs in 2018. Her passion is focused these days on growing ornamental edibles, and foraging for food in the urban and suburban landscape.

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MIRIAM HEREMIA
MIRIAM HEREMIA (@guest_14664)
2 years ago

Thank you

Roy Dalrymple
Roy Dalrymple (@guest_29306)
10 months ago

Hi all, I agree, Bay trees are tricky to strike. I have a 20 foot bay and a few I keep small. I have found that using the method described is the way to go. Most successful for me is to strike them in a light gravel, fish tank size with Willow water. No direct sunlight.