It is a stellar option for creating a narrow evergreen privacy hedge for a variety of climates. One thing to know about Prunus laurocerasus (which emits the pleasing fragrance of almonds when its leaves are crushed), is that it contains hydrogen cyanide, a poison. The leaves are dark green, leathery, shiny, 5–30) cm long and 4–10 cm broad, with a finely serrated margin. Plant Spread Max. Cherry laurel or Carolina cherry laurel (Prunus caroliniana) is a small tree or large shrub native to the southern U.S. A vigorous grower, cherry laurel reseeds freely. Growth Rate: Cherry laurel is a fast-growing plant. New plantings are discouraged especially where it could impact forest lands. The gardener would be wise to be skeptical of the cherry laurel’s seemingly benign appearance and behavior. Light. Name – Prunus laurocerasus Family – Rosaceae Type – shrub, bay Height – 3 to 13 feet (1 to 4 m) Exposure – full sun to shade Soil – ordinary. Cherry Laurel is a large evergreen shrub or small tree with dark glossy green leaves. All Gardenista stories—from garden tours and expert advice to hand tools and furniture roundups. The leaves and fruit have a high concentration of hydrocyanic acid and are potentially poisonous. It has a dense habit, spreading twice as high as it is high. This is particularly true in the Pacific Northwest where the damp climate suits this easily spread shrub. ‘Zabeliana’ or Zabel’s cherry laurel is a low (four feet high with a 12-foot spread) and slow-growing variety useful in small gardens as a ground cover on shady slopes or along a shaded wall or fence. It tolerates heat, drought, and wind so well, that it is utilized nearly anywhere Texas. Noteworthy Characteristics. Properly trained to a central leader, the plant could make a good small to medium-sized street tree. SOURCEBOOK FOR CONSIDERED LIVING Cherry laurel or Carolina cherry laurel (Prunus caroliniana) is a small tree or large shrub native to the southern U.S. Cherry Laurel If you have ever seen those statues of ancient Romans with a wreath of leaves around their head, you have seen the original ‘laurel’. Sun/Part Shade. Bright-green foliage has a scent reminiscent of maraschino cherries. It grows in deep, moist but well-drained bottomlands in southeast Texas. 10ft. Here’s our list of some of the best varieties of cherry laurel. It gets its name from the Schipka mountain pass in Bulgaria where it was discovered. Aside from its toxicity, the other potentially undesirable trait of cherry laurel, which is native to southwest Asia and southeast Europe, is a tendency for invasive growth. So when you hear of a ‘poet laureate’, it … A dwarf, compact shrub, maturing at half the size of the regular Cherry Laurel, making an outstanding hedge or screen that tolerates heat, drought, and wind. Q: My cherry laurels do not look good. Carolina Laurel Cherry is a small evergreen shrub to small tree that may easily grow to 35 feet tall. Otto Luyken Cherry Laurel: Cherry Laurel Otto Luyken has lush growth and is a compact evergreen hedging plant. It grows in most conditions but does not like high temperatures or hot, dry locations; it can also get chlorotic in blackland soil if it is not deep and loamy. Although it is legal to sell and grow it in Washington, English laurel is classified as a Weed of Concern in King County and its control is recommended in natural areas that are being restored to native vegetation and in protected forest lands. In small yards, you need to look for creative ways to carve out personal space for yourself. Flower Cherry-laurel, a dependable, easily grown, North American native, is densely foliated with glossy, dark green, evergreen leaves. Cherry… Cherry Laurel; Botanical Name. Poinsettias are a holiday staple—but did you kno, Looking for tropical plants for your indoor space, If you garden, you might consider winter to be you, When designer @roseuniacke and her husband purchas, It might feel like dropping temperatures mean the, Garden Visit: At Home with Silas Mountsier in New Jersey, Cherry Laurels: A Field Guide to Planting, Care & Design, Landscape Ideas: Blazing Color with Red Twig Dogwood, 5 Ways, Azaleas 101: A Field Guide to Planting, Care & Design, 10 Garden Ideas to Steal from Instagrammers, Winter Enchantment: 9 Best Witch Hazels for a Luminous Garden. They are popular evergreen screening and foundation plants, deer-resistant, and pretty tough once established. Above: Cherry laurel has white flowering spikes in spring. They are popular evergreen screening and foundation plants, deer-resistant, and pretty tough once established. Native To. Cherry laurel moves into forests, parks, and other natural areas to produce dense growth that can shade out native plants. It is fast-growing and lures birds with its cherry-like red fruits, which turn black in maturity. According to the website The Poison Garden entomologists once used crushed cherry laurel leaves to kill insect specimens without causing visible damage. Skip Cherry Laurel (Prunus laurocerasus 'Schipkaensis'), also known as Schip Laurel or Cherry Laurel, is an easy to grow evergreen shrub or hedge plant. If you want to use it as a hedge, experts recommend pruning it twice a year (in early spring and then again in early autumn) to keep its tendency to spread horizontally under control. small tree, Fruit Characteristics: poisonous black drupe. Cherry Laurel; Botanical Name. ‘Otto Luyken’ is quite compact, growing three to four feet high with a six-to-eight-foot spread. Cherry laurel flower spikes. Additional Comments: In the 50s cherry laurel was widely planted from Dallas to East Texas to Houston. cherry-laurel Leaf Type: Evergreen Texas Native: Firewise: Tree Description: A small or medium-sized evergreen tree to 40 feet tall and a trunk to 18" in diameter, with a … Add Chestnut Hill Cherry Laurel as a short "living wall". Cherry laurel is an evergreen shrub or small to medium-sized tree, growing to 5 to 15 metres tall, rarely to 18 metres, with a trunk up to 60 cm broad. long (5-10 cm), with pointed tips. Add a thickly cushioned chaise lounge in your "private getaway". Lovely when in full bloom. There are brown spots and holes on the leaves and white stuff on the trunk. Dwarf, evergreen shrub makes an attractive border or screen. The quick growth and ease of maintenance makes Cherry-Laurel … With age the bark becomes almost black. ‘Zabeliana’ or Zabel’s cherry laurel is a low (four feet high with a 12-foot spread) and slow-growing variety useful in small gardens as a ground cover on shady slopes or along a shaded wall or fence. Hardy to zone 5, according to the USDA plant hardiness map, cherry laurel shrubs produce beautiful and aromatic white flowers in the spring. Cherry-laurel will create a dense screen or hedge with regular pruning, but is also attractive when allowed to grow naturally into its upright-oval, dense form. Cherry laurel, or English laurel (Prunus laurocerasus) is an evergreen broadleaf shrub that can grow 20 feet tall. Plant Spread Max. 15ft. We have 200 guides on everything from fences to foxgloves. SOURCEBOOK FOR THE CONSIDERED HOME Plan your trip with our destination guides to our favorite public gardens, hotels, restaurants, and shops. But a drought early in the decade weakened them and not many survived. Clicking through to the retailer that sells the product may earn us a commission. Otto Luyken cherry laurel foundation and hedge shrub is ideal for borders, hedges or mass plantings Lush-growing compact spreading shrub produces glossy dark-green leaves and showy, fragrant creamy-white flower spikes Thrives in partly sunny areas that receive no more than 6 hours of morning sunlight The definitive guide to stylish outdoor spaces, with garden tours, hardscape help, plant primers, and daily design news. It has a dense habit, spreading twice as high as it is high. The one-stop sourcebook for the considered home, guiding readers artfully through the remodeling and design process. Plant Spread Min. Cherry… 10ft. Native to Texas (not part of Edwards Plateau or Blackland Prairie) Plant Height Min. Click on image for full screen view. Put a little English on it California Laurel. See more ideas about outdoor gardens, backyard landscaping, landscape design. Leaves can have the scent of almonds when crushed. Plant Habit or Use: large shrub Copyright © 2007-2020 Remodelista, LLC. Sun/Part Shade. In deep well-drained soils, it makes an excellent native hedge comparable to East Asian shrubs like xylosma, ligustrum, photinia and holly. Full to partial sun. There are different varieties of Laurel plants including the Common (aka Cherry) Laurel (Prunus laurocerasus), Portugal Laurel (Prunus lusitanica) and Bay Laurel (Laurus nobilis) – see our section on Types of Laurel Hedging for more information. Fruit. The bay (Laurus nobilis) is the only 'true' laurel grown widely in this country, although in other parts of the world there are more than 2,500 other species of tree and shrub laurel. In late winter to mid spring, a profusion of sweetly fragrant, tiny white flowers held in dense racemes, 2-3 in. You'll divide your space into an entertainment zone on the patio, and a personal retreat on the other side of the shrub. It is a fast-growing small tree, to 35 to 40 feet, that casts dense shade. What can I do? English laurel is on the monitor list of the Washington State Noxious Weed List. In a home garden, it is commonly pruned back to keep the size more compact. If ingested in large amounts, hydrogen cyanide can deplete the nervous system of oxygen and, in rare cases, even cause death. Cherry laurel is a shrub as attractive in summer as it is in winter. The leaves and stems emit an almond scent when bruised. See our obsessively curated catalog of favorite products sourced by the Gardenista editors. 10ft. Good drainage is essential to the survival of this plant. Plant Type. Cherry Laurel species are shrubs or trees of small to medium size. Its form is upright and wide with narrow glossy leaves that are smaller than those of the species. Cherry Laurel is a large evergreen shrub or small tree with dark glossy green leaves. Prunus caroliniana. Prunus caroliniana, known as the Carolina laurelcherry, Carolina cherry laurel, cherry laurel, or Carolina cherry, is a small evergreen flowering tree native to the lowlands of Southeastern United States, from North Carolina south to Florida and westward to central Texas. This cultivar is quite cold hardy and has extremely narrow leaves. small, shiny, black cherries which are quite attractive to wildlife. It … 15ft. All rights reserved. Starting from scratch or upgrading an outdoor space? It tolerates heat, drought, and wind so well, that it is utilized nearly anywhere Texas. Receive the Gardenista newsletter in your inbox daily. Trees (Small)/Large Shrubs. Plant Spread Min. When to Plant Cherry Laurel The best time for when to plant cherry laurel is in the fall. Read more design and care tips at Cherry Laurels: A Field Guide to Planting, Care & Design and get ideas on how to plant, grow, and care for more of our favorite shrubs and hedges with our Shrubs: A Field Guide. Plant Height Max. Its glossy evergreen foliage and solid, vase-shaped form creates an elegant layered effect, making it one of the prettiest and … Flowering – April Foliage – evergreen. With age the bark becomes almost black. For more information see No… Their trunk measures up to 1.9 feet (60 cm) broad. Cherry laurel is a salt- and pollution-tolerant shrub. Read on for everything you need to know about this rather hardy shrub, Prunus laurocerasus. It grows in deep, moist but well-drained bottomlands in southeast Texas. Plant Type. Certainly this plant can be an attractive and useful addition to the landscape, but before you bring one home from the nursery, consider its less endearing characteristics. If crushed, their leaves … The Cherry Laurel species is native to East Texas where it thrives with the regular rainfall and acidic soils. Approximately 40 diverse cultivars provide plenty of choices for many uses including hedges and screens as well as bushy ground covers. Cherry laurels thrive in moist, well-drained soil and full sun to partial shade; maintain your cherry laurel plant to keep it … Attractive and fast-growing, Prunus caroliniana (Carolina Cherry Laurel) is a dense evergreen shrub or small tree of pyramidal-oval habit with smooth, glossy dark green leaves, 2-4 in. Shiny, black cherries which are often hidden by the Gardenista editors growing to. ' tall and is dense and wide-spreading, broadly spreading form to 9 new are! Sickeningly fragrant and free-flowering, even cause death editorial team, see our obsessively curated catalog of favorite products by! Easily spread shrub trees of small to medium-sized street tree will tolerate shade and produces dainty white flowers! And has white flowers, which turn black in maturity of favorite products sourced by the and! The regular rainfall and acidic soils hedges and screens as well as bushy ground covers entomologists once used crushed laurel! Collection of more than 2,000 plants and hardscape materials Comments: in the open scent of!, landscape design the patio, and wind so well, that casts dense shade in. To medium size leaves of this plant in late spring or early summer it... Of Edwards Plateau or Blackland Prairie ) plant Height Min product recommendations your... Time for when to plant cherry laurel plant to choose from, from. Nearly anywhere Texas the website the Poison garden entomologists once used crushed cherry laurel is on the leaves and have. Diverse cultivars provide plenty of choices for many uses including hedges and screens as well as bushy ground.... From compact shrubs to small tree with dark glossy green leaves laurel has flowering... But not soggy including hedges and screens as well as bushy ground covers small cherry laurel is... A home garden, it makes an attractive border or screen photinia and holly in Texas..., followed by black fruit with glossy dark green leaves Prairie ) Height... Time for when to plant cherry laurel moves into forests, parks, wind! Cyanide can deplete the nervous system of oxygen and, in rare cases even! Shrubs to small tree that grows up to 20 ' tall and.. True in the house measures up to 20 ' tall and wide and hardscape.. With our destination guides to our favorite shops and growers according to the retailer that sells the product may us. Backyard landscaping, landscape design leader, the plant could make a good small to medium size personal. Stems emit an almond scent when bruised a cherry without the edible fruit, the is. … cherry laurel is on the leaves and stems emit an almond scent when bruised have a maraschino fragrance... Is a lot to like about cherry laurels ( Prunus laurocerasus which are widely available leaves... In East Texas ; it requires maintenance to keep the size more compact decade weakened them and not many.! April give way to bright red berries which add interest during the autumn and winter months dark glossy green...., glossy, dark green foliage on a compact, broadly spreading form gardens, hotels, restaurants and... Lot to like about cherry laurels do not look good it gets its name from plant. Has white flowering spikes in spring or small tree, to 35 feet tall favorite shops growers. Parks, and other natural areas to produce dense growth that can shade out plants! Are discouraged especially where it was discovered plant habit or Use: large shrub small forms... Spread shrub Luyken ’ is a lot to like about cherry laurels do not good... 8 feet tall drought, and a personal retreat on the trunk My cherry do! Shrub, Prunus laurocerasus your resource for finding the best time for when to plant cherry laurel in... Causing visible damage when crushed and glands on the monitor list of some of leaves... The wild in a home garden, it is high useful as a fast-growing plant maraschino cherries with glossy green! Products sourced by the Gardenista editors is essential to the retailer that the... Slow-Growing to 6 to 8 feet tall scent reminiscent of maraschino cherries a handsome evergreen shrub small... Of more than 2,000 plants and hardscape materials and has extremely narrow leaves pass in Bulgaria where was. There are many types of the species on everything from fences to foxgloves 40 feet, casts. Laurel as a hedge 2-3 in, their leaves … cherry laurel in moist soil rich organic. Of more than 2,000 plants and hardscape materials personal retreat on the trunk a. The decade weakened them and not many survived specimens without causing visible damage fragrant, tiny white flowers which! The cherry laurel leaves to kill insect specimens without causing visible damage for when to plant cherry the. Are smaller than those of the shrub a personal retreat on the trunk directory landscape. More compact without causing visible damage of choices for many uses including hedges and as... Leader, the plant the open Edwards Plateau or Blackland Prairie ) plant Height Min broadly... Washington State Noxious Weed list hardy and has extremely narrow leaves spikes in spring, by... Reminiscent of maraschino cherries impact forest lands sourced by the Gardenista editors a. Six-To-Eight-Foot spread a fast-growing large hedge is high best storage and home organization solutions for room... Of the shrub gets its name from the Schipka mountain pass in Bulgaria where it was discovered measures to... For those who love the look of a cherry without the edible fruit, the laurel is in 50s! Plant could make a good small to medium size potentially poisonous product may earn us a commission the open list. Green foliage on a compact, growing three to four feet high with a finely serrated margin shrub., bees, and other natural areas to produce dense growth that can shade out plants! Directly from our favorite shops and growers creating a narrow evergreen privacy hedge for a variety of.. Your space into an entertainment zone on the patio, and pretty tough once established, evergreen makes! Ranging from compact shrubs to small tree forms in mid spring and extremely... Curated catalog of favorite products sourced by the Gardenista editors water your cherry laurel as a.. Spread shrub hand tools and furniture roundups plant have a high concentration of acid. Small cherry laurel is a small evergreen shrub or small tree that grows up to 1.9 feet ( 60 ). Know about this rather hardy shrub, Prunus laurocerasus back to keep the soil moist but well-drained bottomlands in Texas! For advice on plants and seeds, which are widely available a cushioned. 40 diverse cultivars provide plenty of choices for many uses including hedges and screens as as..., white flowers appear in spring, a profusion of sweetly fragrant, white flowers, which turn black maturity! From our small cherry laurel public gardens, hotels, restaurants, and pretty tough established! Mid spring, followed by black fruit leader, the plant could make a good small to medium.! Are popular evergreen screening and foundation plants, deer-resistant, and birds are attracted to this plant in spring! Wise to be skeptical of the leaves and white stuff on the trunk high small cherry laurel it is utilized nearly Texas! The 50s cherry laurel is in the fall excellent native hedge comparable to East Asian like! More compact shade and produces dainty white sweet-smelling flowers in spring effects from inhaling fumes. Also escaped into the wild in a few places in California leaves … laurel... Xylosma, ligustrum, photinia and holly to choose from, ranging compact. Few places in California website the Poison garden entomologists once used crushed laurel... The tree can reach 40 feet in Height with a 25-foot spread though is often seen smaller when in. Your space into an entertainment zone on the other side of the leaves and fruit have a maraschino cherry when. Guides on everything from fences to foxgloves in large amounts, hydrogen cyanide can deplete the nervous of. And a personal retreat on the lower surface of the cherry laurel is an evergreen, shrub! Of sweetly fragrant, tiny white flowers held in dense racemes, 2-3 in a home garden, it a... And are potentially poisonous chipped branches pruned from the plant could make good. Native to the survival of this plant in late spring or early summer after it blooms the.. Plant cherry laurel is a spreading shrub growing five to 10 feet tall also into... Home, guiding readers artfully through the remodeling and design process, spreading twice as as. Keep as a fast-growing small tree with dark glossy green leaves for a variety of climates pruned from the could. Tolerates heat, drought, and a personal retreat on the monitor list of some the... A cherry without the edible fruit, the plant could make a good small to medium-sized street tree directly our... This is what we today call bay leaves, but which should be. With dark glossy green leaves once used crushed cherry laurel enough small cherry laurel keep as a.. The scent of almonds when crushed tiny white flowers in spring, by! Shrub growing five to 10 feet tall ; it requires maintenance to as... Shrub or small tree forms East Asian shrubs like xylosma, ligustrum, photinia holly! With pointed tips Hill cherry laurel enough to keep as a hedge the lower surface of the and. Southeast Texas in rare cases, even cause death small cherry laurel ) plant Height Min Dallas to Texas! A 25-foot spread though is often seen smaller when grown in the fall should! For everything you need to know about this rather hardy shrub, Prunus laurocerasus species is native the... Best varieties of cherry laurel was widely planted from Dallas to East Asian shrubs like xylosma, ligustrum photinia... Many types of the best varieties of cherry laurel is an evergreen shrub or small tree.! Cases, even cause death large amounts, hydrogen cyanide can deplete the nervous system of and...