The real laurel is a plant that has a long tradition of use as a medicinal and spice plant, especially in the Mediterranean region. In Central Europe, real laurel can only be overwintered outdoors in particularly protected locations, as it is otherwise not hardy.
How do you overwinter laurel correctly?
In order to overwinter real laurel outdoors, the plant should be in sheltered locations and protected from frost with jute or winter protection covers. Alternatively, the plant can overwinter in unheated rooms such as cellars, garages or winter gardens at temperatures between 0 and 8°C.
The origin of the laurel tree
The real laurel originally comes from the Middle East, but it has been known throughout the Mediterranean region since ancient times as a medicinal and spice plant. A laurel bush planted in the ground can withstand slightly subzero temperatures over short periods of time. However, year-round outdoor cultivation in Germany is only possible in very mild locations such as around Lake Constance and even there, some winter protection is necessary. Since the real laurel is often grown in pots, there is an even greater need to protect the roots from frost. After all, sensitive roots like those of the laurel freeze even more easily in a plant pot than in a protected position in the garden soil.
The water supply should also be ensured in open areas
If you actually want to risk overwintering real laurel outdoors, winter care includes wrapping the plant in jute (€24.00 on Amazon) or special winter protection covers. In general, locations in front of sunny house walls or on south-facing balconies are preferred, as it is easier for the substrate to thaw from time to time and thus for the roots to be supplied with water.
Wintering in the house
Real laurel is sensitive to frost, but the following rooms are still better suited as winter quarters than the windowsill in the room:
- Basement rooms
- Garages
- unheated winter gardens
- Greenhouses
Tips & Tricks
Real laurel tolerates temperatures between zero and eight degrees Celsius better than the usual room temperature in winter.
