Cherry Laurel - Prunus laurocerasus Rotundifolia

Cherry Laurel Hedge Plants - Bareroot

The Common or Cherry Laurel Tree - Prunus laurocerasus Rotundifolia - is an excellent hedging plant. They are large, evergreen, fast growing and will thrive even in shady spots with poor soil. All it needs is good soil drainage.

These are bareroot Cherry Laurels for winter delivery (Nov-March).
If you need your plants outside winter, you can order Pot-grown Cherry Laurel - please note that our biggest sizes of Cherry Laurel are only delivered in pots.
You can browse all of our other types of Laurel for sale here.

Other Names for Cherry Laurel - Prunus laurocerasus Rotudifolia:
English Laurel
Common Laurel

Description:
Cherry Laurel has big, evenly shaped, glossy evergreen leaves. They are thick and heavy, which makes them a good barrier against wind, sound and light. This variety, Rotundifolia, is extra bushy and makes the best hedge plant.
Flowers: In early summer it produces masses of rising flowering stalks called racemes. The white petalled flowers have a strong, sweet smell and attract every bee and butterfly in the area.
Fruit: The small black fruit don't really look much cherries. They are toxic to humans, but they taste too bitter for anyone to eat one. Some birds will eat them.  

Planting Cherry Laurel

As well as hedging, Cherry Laurel is also a good choice for a specimen shrub or medium sized tree, especially in problem areas.

It's only requirement is good soil drainage - it will grow poorly and die young if the soil is damp all the time.
If the drainage is good, it is an outstanding plant for heavy shade, poorly fertile soil near other big trees or polluted areas beside a road.

A mature Cherry Laurel hedge casts such dense shade that weeds have a very hard time growing underneath it.
It provides superb cover for game and a mature hedge or bush will attract nesting birds.

Not suitable for livestock & horses: While humans are at no risk, it is possible for horses and other farm animals to die if they eat too many laurel leaves.
It is very unlikely that well fed animals would do this, but it's better to be safe than sorry.

Remember that Cherry Laurel is an evergreen and so it is active year round.  This means it needs watering in dry periods during winter while it establishes.
Do this with care,  as very wet soil will cause the roots to rot.

Cherry laurel pruning and care: Once established Laurel hedge plants need no special care, but they will love a mulch every year of well rotted organic material.
Carry out pruning and clipping between June and August to reduce the risk of mildew attack.

Spacing: Common laurel hedging plants should be planted at 2 per metre.
Left to its own devices, a cherry laurel tree will reach about 6 metres, 20 feet, with a spread of about 4 metres, 13 feet.

Cherry laurel diseases: In a mild, humid summer, common laurel can be affected by a fungal infection known as "shot hole" that creates holes in the leaves. This isn't a serious problem and we don't recommend using chemicals. Just improve air circulation by thinning the branches a little and making sure it is not planted too close to a fence or wall. Avoid getting the leaves wet if you are using sprinklers.