Hobbies And Interests
North America
Laurel trees in North America tend to be cultivated in the southern part of the country, places with a mean temperature between 50 and 60 degrees F. The mild winters and sweltering summers can be conducive to the tree's development. Additionally, laurel species in North America need a certain level of moisture, and the eastern states below the Mason Dixon line tend to have an average rainfall of up to 50 inches per year. One laurel species that thrives under these conditions is sassafras (Sassafras albidum), which was originally cultivated for its medicinal purposes and later became one of the main root beer ingredients.
South America and Caribbean
Species of the laurel plant that propagate South America tend to thrive in subtropical climates, where there is little frost. Additionally, these flowering trees need high levels of humidity and are thus often cultivated in places that have very little wind, as wind can lower moisture levels in the air. Most South American laurel plants can become dormant when the temperature falls close to freezing, but flourish in the summer months where the temperature elevates close to 100 degrees F. A popular South American Laurel is the avocado plant (Persea Americana), which is native to Mexico but distributed throughout South America and the Caribbean.
Mediterranean
The Mediterranean area is also home to laurel species that flourish in arid dessert-like terrain---with an annual rainfall of 20 inches. In contrast to the South American climate, the Mediterranean has extremely hot, dry summers, as temperatures hover around 100 to 115 degrees F. Its winters are cooler, and averaging between 55 and 65 degrees F. One of the most common laurel trees in this region is the bay Leaf (Laurus nobilis)---a tree that can grow up to 60 feet tall and produce a fragrant leaf, often used as a spice.
Southeastern Asia
The areas of Southeastern Asia are also conducive to the cultivation of laurel, with its extremely hot and moisture-rich climate. Unlike the other climates where laurel is distributed, this part of the world has consistent, year-round temperatures of 85 to 95 degrees F. Another characteristic of Southeast Asia is its wet season, as torrential downpours and monsoon are prevalent from the end of April to the beginning of September. Nevertheless, the Asian spice bush (Lindera benzoin), one of the source of allspice, survives this radical climate.