Native to the Mediterranean, bay laurel is a small, pyramidal, aromatic, evergreen tree or large shrub that grows to as much as 60 feet tall, but is usually seen much smaller (10 to 30 feet tall). For garden purposes, it is often pruned to 8 feet tall or less. Leathery, thick, elliptic to oval, glossy dark-green leaves (2 to 4 inches long) from this tree are commonly used as a culinary herb. Small yellowish-green flowers bloom in spring. Trees are dioecious (separate male and female trees). Flowers on female plants, if pollinated, are followed by single-seeded, purple-black berries. In ancient Greece, the leaves of this tree were woven into wreaths to crown the victors of various contests.