Laurus (/ˈlɔːrəs/)[2] is a genus of evergreen trees or shrubs belonging to the laurel family, Lauraceae.

They are slow-growing, large, evergreen aromatic shrubs or trees with alternate, ovate leaves and insignificant yellow male and female flowers borne on separate plants (dioecious).

They are frost-hardy but in temperate zones they require a sheltered spot in full sun that is not subject to prolonged freezing.

[3] Three species are currently accepted:[1] Fossils dating from before the Pleistocene glaciations show that laurel forests containing species of Laurus were formerly distributed more widely around the Mediterranean and North Africa, when the climate was more humid and mild than at present.

[5][6] It is currently thought that the drying of the Mediterranean basin during the glaciations caused Laurus to retreat to the mildest climate refuges, including southern Spain, Portugal and the Macaronesian islands.