When to plant bay laurel in North Carolina
North Carolina spans USDA zones 7a–8b, so the right time to plant bay laurel shifts by weeks across the state. The window to transplant seedlings outdoors runs from about March 22 in Goldsboro to May 9 in Boone — below are local dates for 96 cities, each computed from its own frost dates.
| City | Zone | Last frost | First frost | Transplant out |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charlotte | 8a | March 30 | November 3 | April 6 – April 13 |
| Raleigh | 8a | March 28 | November 8 | April 4 – April 11 |
| Greensboro | 8a | April 1 | November 4 | April 8 – April 15 |
| Durham | 8a | April 2 | November 4 | April 9 – April 16 |
| Winston-Salem | 8a | March 26 | November 9 | April 2 – April 9 |
| Fayetteville | 8a | March 30 | November 10 | April 6 – April 13 |
| Cary | 8a | March 27 | November 8 | April 3 – April 10 |
| Wilmington | 8b | March 19 | November 20 | March 26 – April 2 |
Bay Laurel in North Carolina: FAQ
When can I plant bay laurel in North Carolina?
Across North Carolina, the time to transplant bay laurel spans roughly March 22 in Goldsboro to May 9 in Boone, each following that city's local frost dates.
Does the bay laurel planting date vary across North Carolina?
Yes. North Carolina publishes 96 cities with their own frost dates, so the right bay laurel planting window shifts by weeks between the warmest and coldest parts of the state — use your city's page for the exact dates.
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