Yes, you can grow a bay leaf tree in your zone but put the tree in a pot - then you will need to move it indoors to a brightly lit room when the temperatures drop below 30 degrees. Make sure this plant has good drainage - add some perlite or sand to the potting soil. Bay trees (Laurus nobilis) are also susceptible to black scale so before you move it indoors wash the leaves with mild soap and water. During mild winters like the one we just experienced, I have heard of Bay trees surviving outdoors - but only in a very protected spot. Keep growing, Marianne Binetti