Bay is a native tree in the mountainous region of northern Israel. Twenty trees representing a wide range of morphological variation were marked on a large area and the rooting ability of cuttings taken from them was tested under intermittent mist in an unheated glasshouse. Essential oil content varied among trees. In order to preserve natural variations in rootability, oil content, and morphological characteristics appearing in the wild populations, vegetative propagation of bay laurel was studied. Rooting ability fluctuated during the year, being the best in summer and dropping to nil during the winter. Heating the rooting medium increased rooting throughout the year.