Family tradition and craftsmanship
Laurica-plants is a family-run bay tree nursery based in Jabbeke, near Bruges, with a history dating back to the early 1970s.
What began as a small-scale agricultural business growing vegetables and greenhouse crops gradually developed into a specialised bay tree nursery with a strong European reputation.
The move towards bay trees was no coincidence. In a region where bay has long been part of the horticultural tradition, and where the climate and sea air encourage compact and vigorous growth, founder André Devisch recognised the potential of the Laurus nobilis. Through the acquisition of semi-mature plants and years of refining cultivation techniques, he and his family built a business that today focuses entirely on quality, uniformity and craftsmanship.
The second generation has since taken the helm. Elie and Marian continue to develop both the nursery and the sales activities, guided by the same conviction as in the early days: bay trees require time, care and attention. That philosophy remains the foundation of Laurica-plants.
Elie’s sister Sybiel also joined the family business. Together with her husband Tom, she now runs Lauretum, which specialises in the rental of bay trees.
Laurus nobilis: one plant, endless character
Laurus nobilis: one plant, endless character
Laurica-plants cultivates exclusively the Laurus nobilis, the true bay tree. Not merely an ornamental plant, but a noble species with a rich history and a dual purpose: decorative and culinary.
Unlike seed-grown plants, all our bay trees are grown from cuttings. This results in slower growth, but also in plants that are uniform in leaf, shape and aroma. It is precisely this compact and consistent growth habit that makes the Laurus nobilis exceptionally well suited to topiary and shaping.
Our bay trees are given the time they need to develop into healthy, robust plants that retain their shape and perform reliably under varying conditions.
Visit the nursery
To truly understand Laurica-plants, you need to see the nursery for yourself. Every plant is cared for by hand: from propagation and pruning to twisting and braiding. Traditional craftsmanship that has become rare today, yet remains part of our daily practice.
A visit to the nursery reveals the wide variety of our range and – above all – the precision and control behind our cultivation process. Through our company film, you can already take a look behind the scenes and see how quality at Laurica-plants is built and refined. Step by step, season after season.
Corporate movie
Our corporate film offers a look behind the scenes, showing how quality at Laurica-plants is created and grows, step by step, season after season.
The orange Laurica certificate
Our distinctive orange certificate has been the quality label of Laurica-plants for decades. It represents plants that are fully grown in-house, intensively monitored and carefully finished.
More about the orange certificateSymbol
for Quality
Sustainable from cutting to tree
At Laurica-plants, sustainability is not about empty promises, but about daily choices. We work with water recovery systems, reuse irrigation and rainwater, and store millions of litres to safeguard against periods of drought. Solar panels and battery storage enable us to generate a large share of our own energy.
We also use recycled pots, organic fertilisers and targeted cultivation techniques to minimise the use of crop protection products. By keeping the entire process in-house, we maintain control over transport, energy and raw materials.
In this way, we are building a closed, future-oriented nursery that respects plants, people and planet. Our efforts are recognised and rewarded with the A+ certificate within the MPS qualification system.
Bay, from leaf to liqueur
Bay combines visual elegance with a rich sensory character. Consider the culinary use of bay leaves in the kitchen. From that same philosophy, our artisan bay liqueur was created: a small-scale side project developed to allow visitors to smell and taste what makes the Laurus nobilis so distinctive.
The liqueur is enjoyed as a digestif and has also found its way into several restaurants and creative applications. Not a commercial product, but a natural extension of our story.
