Bay Laurel in Southern California, USA

I live in southern California (zone 8). I recently received three bay laurel plants and was curious as to whether these plants should "only" be grown in containers or can they be planted (given my zone etc)?

Bay Laurel can be grown out of doors in zones 8-10. So go ahead and plant yourself a bay laurel hedge or let one or more of them get tall enouugh to make a small tree.