Laurel Hedge Plants - Prunus laurocerasus Rotundifolia - Cherry or Common Laurel
Common laurel - regularly misspelt laural, or Prunus laurocerasus Rotundifolia, are such popular hedging plants in the UK that they are known in other countries as English Laurel. It is easy to see why it is so widely used - cherry laurels are large, swift growing shrubs or small trees that will thrive almost anywhere, with glossy evergreen foliage that makes an outstanding barrier against wind, sound and light. Because Common Laurel is also pollution tolerant it is probably the best roadside barrier hedging plant there is.
In early summer they produce masses of flowering stalks - called racemes that attract every bee and butterfly in the area. The flowers develop into cherry-like fruit - laurel is a member of the cherry family which are pretty and popular with birds, though they are toxic to just about everything else. Possibly the best thing about a cherry laurel hedge is that it it provides such a dense barrier that nothing will grow under or immediately around it, which saves you having to do any weeding. The cultivar Prunus laurocerasus Rotundifolia is especially bushy and its wide, oval leaves tend to be evenly formed, which is why we think that this cherry laurel makes a better hedging plant than other varieties.
While it is best known as an all round hedging plant, common laurel also makes a good shrub for dark and dingy corners or sites that are over shadowed by big trees where little else will grow. It provides superb cover for game and cherry laurel is bound to attract nesting birds.
A note of caution: Almost every part of the common laurel is poisonous - bundles of crushed laurel leaves were used in ancient times to poison water supplies. It is therefore unsuitable for use around herbivorous animals. The fruit is visually attractive but fortunately, it is the seed, not the flesh that is dangerous and it all tastes so utterly foul that people just spit it straight out.
Planting Cherry Laurel
As long as drainage is good, Prunus Rotundifolia will grow in almost any soil type, even very dry and poor ones. Just remember that Cherry Laurel is an evergreen and so is never truly dormant. This means it needs watering, even in winter - if it is dry - while it establishes. Do this judiciously as very wet soil will cause the roots to rot. Cherry laurel is a true understory plant that does not mind very shady spots and is happy under other trees.
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.
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.
If you are about to buy laurel hedging, but you are feeling impatient, we do sell larger container grown specimens in the Potted Hedge Plants section of our site
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