The bay trees successfully shade out all competition. Here near its thick trunk hardly any other plants can grow.

This bay laurel grew near the path so light allowed other plants to grow. Notice how dark the grove of bay laurels appeared behind it.

The leaves of the bay laurel are typically are 2 to 4 inches (6 to 12 cm) long and 0.5 to 1.5 inches (2 to 4 cm) broad. The edges of the leaves begin smooth, but serrate and wrinkle as they mature.

Because the bay laurel grows in tight groves, the leaves of one tree will intermingle with the leaves of a neighboring tree.

Bay Laurel is the source of the bay leaves, which are used for their flavor in cooking. The spicy aromatic leaves can be used to season soups and stews. But note that the wild leaves are four to five times as potent than commercial sources.

The laurel wreath of ancient Greece was made by interlocking the leaves and branches of the bay laurel tree. The laurel wreath was the source of the expression, to rest on one's laurels.

Bay laurel trees grow in tight groves and create so much shade they can drive out other grown covering plants.

The bay laurel can grow to heights of 30 to 60 feet (10 to 18 meters). They are native to the Mediterranean region, but easily grow anywhere with a similar climate, such as in the California Bay Area.

This individual bay laurel tree had three trunks growing from a single trunk at ground level.

Moss grew on this particular grove of bay laurel trees. The moss coverage was most severe near the tops of the trees.

The trunk of the bay laurel tree was roughly textured. Bay laurel trees had few horizontal branches so did not appear easy to climb.