Cherry Laurel
Prunus laurocerasus
Cherry laurel is a fast, dense evergreen with large glossy leaves, widely used for privacy hedges in the UK and US. It has spikes of white flowers in spring and black berries.
Photo: Karduelis · Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Essential Care Requirements
Light
Full sun, Partial sun, Low light
Watering
Moderate
Water new hedges regularly for the first year.
Soil
Most well-drained soils; pH 5.5–7.5.
Temperature and humidity
-20–35 °C · Moderate humidity
Feeding
Feed in spring.
Pruning and propagation
Propagate by stem cuttings
Trim hedges in late spring or summer, ideally with secateurs to avoid cut, browning leaves.
Leaves and seeds release cyanide when crushed and are toxic to people and animals. Do not burn or shred clippings in enclosed spaces.
Top Cultivation Tips
Plant 60–90 cm apart for a hedge.
Can become invasive in woodlands; keep trimmed.
Tolerates heavy shade.
Hardy in USDA zones 6–8.
Common problems
Aphids
Small, soft-bodied insects that cluster on new shoots and buds, sucking sap and leaving sticky honeydew behind.
How to treat it →PestBagworms
Caterpillars that live inside spindle-shaped silk bags covered with bits of leaf and strip evergreens and other shrubs of their foliage.
How to treat it →DiseaseLeaf spot
Fungal or bacterial infections that cause brown, black or purple spots on leaves, often with a yellow halo, leading to early leaf drop.
How to treat it →DiseasePowdery mildew
A fungal disease that coats leaves, buds and young shoots with a white, flour-like dust, weakening the plant and spoiling flowers and fruit.
How to treat it →
