The bay laurel (Laurus nobilis, of the plant family Lauraceae), also known as sweet bay, bay tree, true laurel, Grecian laurel, laurel tree, or simply laurel, is an aromatic evergreen tree or large shrub with green, glossy leaves, native to the Mediterranean region. It is the source of the bay leaf used in cooking. The plant is the source of several popular spices used in a wide variety of recipes, particularly among Mediterranean cuisines. Most commonly, the aromatic leaves are used, fresh or dried. For cooking purposes, whole bay leaves have a long shelf life of about one year, under normal temperature and humidity. Bay leaves are used almost exclusively as flavour agents during the food preparation stage; even when cooked, whole bay leaves can be sharp and abrasive enough to damage internal organs, so they are typically removed from dishes before serving, unless used as a simple garnish. Ground bay leaves, however, can be ingested safely and are often used in soups and stocks, as well as being a common addition to a Bloody Mary. Dried laurel berries and pressed leaf oil can both be used as robust spices, and even the wood can be burnt for strong smoke flavouring. And from 'About.com-Gardening': Although bay is a very attractive shrub or small tree, it is grown as a seasoning. The dark green leaves are very fragrant, especially when dried. Dried leaves are broken or crumbled into cooking foods and allowed to permeate the dish. Bay can be grown simply as an ornamental. It has attractive foliage and can easily be pruned and sheared into topiary shapes. The leaves are often used to make wreaths and garlands. Since bay is a very slow grower, itâÂÂs ideal for container growing. Bay has also been a traditional medicinal plant, with uses as varied as earaches, rheumatism and insect repellent. CAUTION: some people find bay to be a skin irritant. It's very important that you only grow plants labeled Laurus nobilis, if you plan to use it for cooking and eating. There are other plants that go by the common names of bay and sweet bay and these are not necessarily edible.

Digging sprouts coming from roots in a pot could be quite a chore. Then there is the matter of what effect it might have on the parent plant to take out chunks of its roots near the trunk. When getting more plants is the main objective (and large outdoor specimens are not available) probably works much better to take stem cuttings and root them, or even just buy additional small plants for five or ten bucks each. Otherwise, just cut the suckers off at their point of origin, if you don't want them growing up through the branch structure.

I have a large bush/tree, about 12 feet tall. It's got 'natural form and size', as it hasn't had much care before or since we bought the property, just a light pruning. It's attractive, useful, and an easy keeper. It gets lots of sun and little or no summer irrigation and is quite healthy. Has many small trunks and does sprout some suckers. Right now it has a lot of berries on it. I'll try to attach a link to a photo of it. sb Here is a link that might be useful:

Here in Aransas County, we have the following "bays": Persea borbonia, also known as Red Bay, is what we see growing here on the coastal bend. It generally is growing as an understory tree. Lots of them are growing on the Blackjack Peninsula. P. borbonia var. pubescens, is known as Swamp Bay, and it also grows here on the coastal bend. Both red bay P. borbonia and swamp bay P. borbonia var. pubescens grow throughout the southern United States and the plants spicy leaves are successfully substituted for Laurus nobilis, which is what we consider to be the "true bay". So feel free to go out and pick some leaves to throw into a pot of beans, potatoes, stews, fish, etc. Just be sure to remove them before eating. Be careful that you know for sure what "bay" you plan on using. According to Susan Belsinger, picking bay in the wild is not recommended, as some plants commonly called bays or laurels are highly poisonous. Mountain laurel Kalmia latifolia, cherry laurel Prunus laurocerasus, bayberry Myrica pennsylvanica, loblolly bay Gordonia lasianthus, and West Indian bay Pimenta racemosa, are highly toxic and should not be ingested. The Aransas County Extension Office number is 361-790-0103.