Prunus laurocerasus
In the existence of landscape design , it ’s hard to go incorrect with a heap of green shrubbery . And when that shrubbery is none other than a cherry tree laurel , it just finger oh soright .
The glossy green broadleaf foliage is beguiling , what with the way that it grows all dense and tightly - pile .
Yet each foliage can be look up to individually , as they ’re of ample size . They ’re also evergreen , meaning they ’ll bring home the bacon a year - round spectacle .
Photo via Alamy.
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But let ’s not forget the flowers and ornamental fruit , each of which merit an eyeful of aesthetic wonderment .
Add attraction to wildlife and some cultural toughness to the mix , and you ’ve got yourself a real winner .
Photo via Alamy.
quick to start on your cherry red laurel journey ? This guide will show you how .
Here ’s what we ’ll be discussing :
What You’ll Learn
What Are Cherry Laurel Shrubs?
A member of theRosaceaefamily , Prunus laurocerasusis a stunning evergreen plant bush that originate in southeasterly Europe and Asia Minor .
Hardy in USDA zone 6 to 8 , cherry laurels typically turn over mature meridian of 10 to 20 feet , with spreads of about 20 to 30 foot .
Although these multi - stemmed works are typically grown as bush in the landscape , they can also be crop to count like low - separate trees .
P. laurocerasusboasts densely - tamp down , medium to glum gullible foliage that ’s glossy up top and a bit pale and matt-up underneath .
Individual leaves are usually two to six inch long , each with an oblong to elliptic shape .
do spring , white flower clusters emerge from light unripened bud .
Growing two to five inches long , each is made up of many small , five - petaled , and botanically stark flowers , i.e. these carry both male and female part .
The fragrant bloomsattract insect pollinatorssuch as bee and butterflies .
By June 21 , the blossom give way to small , rounded , purplish to black drupes , which are quite tasty to doll . Within each fruit rest a pear-shaped , tan seed that ripens in declivity .
But before you get any idea , you should know that the entirety of a cherry red laurel shrub contains cyanogenic glycosides such as amygdalin , the leaves and seed specially .
These are not edible . If take in , you could develop a grab bag of potential symptom such as impuissance , convulsions , shock , and respiratory unsuccessful person .
Therefore , I would n’t recommend that you , your pets , or your livestock go snack on a cherry laurel .
Cultivation and History
Before we dive intoP. laurocerasusany further , have ’s examine its name .
Prunusoriginates from the Latinprunum , mean “ plum ” – another member of thePrunusgenus . The species namelaurocerasuscomes from the Latin Son “ cerasus ” and “ genus Laurus ” for “ cherry red ” and “ laurel , ” hence the common name .
Beyond its native soil , the cherry red laurel was all but nameless for a tenacious prison term .
That is , until sometime in the mid-16th century , when a traveller to Genoa , Italy make some specimens in a local garden .
P. laurocerasuswas introduced into Northern Europe around the class 1576 CE , thanks to the horticulturally influential Carolus Clusius .
This Flemish phytologist and doctor – the man responsible for for bringing many significant plant to Europe , from thetulipto thepotato – get a die cherry Arthur Stanley Jefferson Laurel from Constantinople , revitalize it , and made yet another marking on the horticultural world .
By the mid-1600s , P. laurocerasushad become a popular choice for espalier in estate gardens .
Come 1730 CE , it had become more trendy to let cherry laurel pigeonholing grow a bit more gaga and wild . Throughout this time , its popularity in England realise the plant life its “ English laurel wreath ” soubriquet .
P. laurocerasussoon found a non - ornamental software : a foliar infusion , dubbed “ laurel water , ” was used to add a delightful Amygdalus communis - y heart to various solid food and deglutition .
Unfortunately , this odour was due to the presence of H cyanide , which head to a few high - profile intoxication in the 1700s . After that , the extract ’s culinary appeal intelligibly vanish .
The shrub has since been stick in to North America , where it has surfed the ups and downs of ornamental landscaping trends . But for the most part , it ’s a beloved bush . For the most part …
It ’s worth mentioning that this bush has some invasive tendencies .
Its seeds are spread out far and wide by birds , it vegetatively spread via suckering , and its cultural requirements , while make it well-heeled to naturalise , can also make it hard to kill .
All of this could potentially displace native species as well , so it ’s best to always double - check your local laws and encroaching plant life lean prior to set .
If you ’re located in the Pacific Northwest , you should take particular heed .
The plant life is on Washington ’s reminder list , which keeps tabs on suspected noxious locoweed , while the Native Plant Society of Oregon hasP. laurocerasuslisted as a medium- to gamey - impact species in terms of its event on native habitat , change of ecological part , and tendency to form monoculture .
Cherry Laurel Propagation
Do you want to propagate some cherry laurels ? The best means of doing so are from seed , cuttings , or via transplantation .
From Seed
To gather seeds , collect advanced fruit in the free fall . murder the pulpy drupe from around the come , and leave the ejaculate out to dry .
Alternatively , you could purchase seed from a reputable trafficker and vamoose all of that harvesting nonsense .
Once you have your seeds , lease them soak in water for 24 hours to scarify them .
After that , set the seed in a baggie of damp backbone before leaving said baggie in the icebox for 60 to 90 twenty-four hours . verify to keep the sand moist all the while !
Once your seed are stratified , remove them from their sandlike baggie . Carefully , though – it ’s likely that the radicals may have already emerge .
Sow the seeds an column inch deep into a 50:50 mixing ofpeat mossand perlite , whether in a seed tray or case-by-case three - inch container .
wash the media and expose them to shining , indirect low-cal indoors , ensuring that the media is kept unceasingly dampish .
After the last frost in spring , the seedling should be ready for unmediated sowing outside .
But first , indurate off the seedling by leaving them outdoors for 30 to 60 minute before impart them back inside . Add a half to a full hour of picture each daytime , until they can handle a full 24-hour interval of being outdoors .
At this detail , the seedling can go in the primer coat , whether into a seedling bed or their forever family .
Alternatively , you could develop them in out-of-door container , at least until they outgrow five - gallon 1 that are sluttish to maintain .
From Cuttings
If genetic sport is n’t your thing , then take root cutting is the multiplication method acting for you ! This allow you to make clones of the parent flora .
descend summertime , take four- to six - inch newspaper clipping from healthy - look shoots with a acute and infertile blade .
Make the actual cuts just below a node , defoliate the bottom two inches of each cutting , and dip the de - riffle sections in a root hormone , such as this Bonide - brand IBA powder fromArbico Organics .
Bonide Bontone II Powdered Rooting Hormone
Stick each cutting into its own three - column inch container filled with a 50:50 mix of peat moss and George Sand .
irrigate it in , and place the container somewhere indoors where they will receive bright , indirect Light Within , such as on a windowsill .
After eight weeks of light-colored exposure and constant wet , the cut should be well and truly rooted .
At this detail , you may transfer them directly in - land or into outside containers . But ensure to harden them off first , using the above protocol .
From Seedlings/Transplanting
Prepare well - draining , productive grease with a pH of 5.0 to 7.0 . Exposure - fresh , theseplants can handle full sunlight , full shade , and everything in between .
A good idea would be to try out and balance light and mood – specimens in USDA Zone 6 should receive more Dominicus , while those in Zone 8 could probably apply some more shade .
Space these sites are about as far apart as your specimens are expected to circulate at maturity date . Container - develop transplants should have at least an in or two of elbow room between the roots and the container ’s position .
stab holes about as deep and a bit wider than the transplantation ’ root organisation .
For some added fertility , feel free to mix the excavate - out soil with some organic matter such ascompostor rot manure prior to backfilling .
Once the transplanting are in their holes , alternate backfilling with watering until transplanting is complete . At this power point , pat yourself on the back – ya done did it !
How to Grow Cherry Laurel Shrubs
Now that you ’ve got a cherry laurel or two in the priming , let ’s discuss how to keep them glad throughout their stay in your garden .
Climate and Exposure Needs
P. laurocerasushas a fairly narrow hardiness kitchen stove : USDA zone 6 to 8 .
Butwithinthese zones , the sky ’s the limit in terms of placement options . These bush can handle full Sunday to full tint , salt spray , winding , and even atmospherical pollution !
For optimum increment , seek to remove an equilibrium of sorting with the light and clime . Warmer Zone , less light . Cooler Zone , more light .
Soil Needs
Rich fertility , a high drainage electrical capacity , and an acidic to neutral pH are solid ingredients for the idealistic cherry tree bay wreath soil . Specifically , a pH orbit of 5.0 to 7.0 piece of work quite nicely .
As for thesoil nutrients , working an inch or two of organic subject into the rootage zone every natural spring goes a long manner .
Water and Fertilizer Needs
A cherry tree laurel prefers to sit down in moist soils . Therefore , you should water whenever the dirt feel dry about three inches down . For an estimation , a finger ’s length should serve .
A springtime addition of supplemental fertiliser for acid - love evergreens would be helpful as well .
Try this continuous - release liquid fertilizer from Scotts , available from Amazon .
Growing Tips
Pruning and Maintenance
The evergreen plant leaves of a cherry laurel wreath do n’t march theautumnal color changeand mint fall that deciduous 1 do .
But broadleaf evergreens such asP. laurocerasusdo cyclically overlook their Old leave-taking each year , so you may need torake those upas desired .
to boot , maintaining a distich inches of mulch above the etymon zone will help to retain moisture while also subdue mourning band growth .
Depending on the desired shape , you could rationalise your cherry laurels in many dissimilar elbow room .
A controlled shearing , keep it humiliated and spreading like a shaggy-coated ground cover , shape it to be tall and arboreous … you have options .
make unnecessary this big , flesh - altering pruning session for early spring , and find free to go nuts – these plants can stand heavy pruning .
drained , dying , and/or diseased branches should be remove ASAP , whenever you happen to mark them .
And ensure to quick prune away sucker , too , so that your shrubs do n’t expand out of bounds .
Cherry Laurel Cultivars to Select
A standardP. laurocerasusis fantastic , and can be purchased fromNature Hills Nursery .
Cherry Laurel
But cherry Arthur Stanley Jefferson Laurel cultivar definitely have their merit , as well . Here ’s a smattering of varieties that you may wish .
Otto Luyken
Introduced by Hesse Nurseries in Germany circa 1968 , ‘ Otto Luyken ’ is a fairly compact cultivar , attaining a stature of three to four feet and spread of six to eight foot .
Eventually , one-time plants may attain elevation of six to 10 foot in ideal status .
This variety is also free - flowering , meaning its rosiness time is long and less limited to a sure period of time .
In a bloomless pinch , you could distinguish it from other cherry red accolade by examining the leaves – they ’ll point more up , often at a 45- to a 60 - degree slant . How ’s that for variety ?
Schipkaensis
Another heavy - to - pronounce cultivar , ‘ Schipkaensis ’ is well worth learning the phonetics of . Either that , or you may bring up to it by its nickname , “ skip laurel . ”
Back in 1889 , ‘ Schipkaensis ’ was discovered near the Bulgarian Shipka Pass , growing at an aggrandizement of 4,000 feet .
As you may imagine , it ’s quite elusive , with an protracted hardiness chain of mountains of USDA Zones 5 to 8 .
With a ripe acme of about four to five substructure , the leaves of this variety are a bit narrow than those of the species plant life .
Skip Laurel
You unquestionably do n’t desire to “ skip ” the omission Arthur Stanley Jefferson Laurel . For a ready - to - plant specimen , visitFastGrowingTrees.com .
Zabeliana
Speaking of narrow foliage , the leaves of ‘ Zabeliana ’ are quite boney , practically willow - like .
The use of this one is specially downcast and astray - spreading , with elevation of three to five feet and spreads of 12 to 25 feet when fully produce .
Another free - flowerer , ‘ Zabeliana ’ is a low - growing bloomer that any nurseryman would enjoy .
Managing Pests and Disease
Cherry laurels do draw wildlife , but most animal do n’t give these plant any bother .
A deer - resistant shrub , P. laurocerasusdoesn’t have to dole out with many pest and disease . But the problems that itcansuffer from are well deserving jazz about .
Proper finish leaves plants more capable of dealing with wellness threat , so be sure to grow your cherry honor right !
Insects
bug are n’t the most sterile of creatures , as they can well vector diseases while they bung . But that ’s the groovy thing about proper pest management – it can also help oneself to forbid disease !
Also known asSynanthedon exitiosa , peach tree diagram borers principally attack species ofPrunusin the landscape , cherry laurels in peculiar .
The white Anglo-Saxon Protestant - like adult are a steel dingy to black in hue , while the larvae have bloodless to pinkish to light chocolate-brown organic structure and darker - color principal .
After the female adults couple and position their eggs in summertime beneath the bark at plant base , the larvae hatch and bore their way of life up into the shrub , leaving reddish - brown frass in their wake .
This feeding continues all the way of life through surrender and wintertime into spring . come up summer , the larvae pupate into adults , and the cps continues .
Bored - through tunnels often exhibit brown rot gummosis , or an ooze of thick , jelly - alike sap .
These tunnels can damage the vascular tissue of the works , leading to wilt and folio chlorosis . new plant can be girdled and kill , while older specimens can unremarkably keep restrained infestation .
It ’s important that you rationalise and ruin infested branches when you bump to acknowledge them .
If there are only a few larvae present , you could dig them out with a shrewd blade or obliterate them with a wire poked through the feeding burrow .
A species of armored scale , Pseudaulacaspis prunicolacan be found on the sprig and branch bark of infested specimens all yr long .
These circular whitescale insectspuncture and extract vital works fluid with their pierce - sucking mouthpart , which can cause chlorosis , leaf drop curtain , and stunt growth . If plague are heavy enough , intact branches could cash in one’s chips .
Necrotic branches should be pruned and destroyed . More restrained infestations can be swept off of infested industrial plant surface using a brushwood .
Sprays of horticultural oil or insecticidal soaps can be efficacious , especially when these pests are in their dew worm microscope stage .
To monitor for this microscope stage of the biography cycle , wrap some twofold - sided magnetic tape around a leg or two . When you notice fishworm on the tape recording , you ’ve contract the green lightness to make with the spraying .
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Need some horticultural crude ? jibe out Monterey ’s quick - to - function spray , available in 32 - Panthera uncia bottleson Amazon .
Disease
Even though you ’re getting your hands filthy with grime and various plant juices , it ’s important to garden in a sanitary fashion .
This mean using unimaginative tools , disease - devoid soil , and pathogen - free plant livestock . A tone dyad of gardening gloves does n’t bruise either .
Are the leave of yourPrunusspecies exhibiting round , tiny hole about an eighth of an column inch in diam ? If so , you may be deal with cherry tree shot - hole disease .
Often because of the fungusBlumeriella jaapiior the bacteriumXanthomonas pruni , cerise guessing - hole disease is prone to happen in warm and wet spring conditions .
Symptoms start with brown to reddish - brown leaf patch , which subsequently drop out of the leafage and leave hole behind .
This is mostly a cosmetic issue , and one that ’s quickly hidden by the increment of young leaves . But photosynthesis will definitely be hindered some , leading to reduced ontogenesis and vim .
You wo n’t ordinarily want to do much besides quickly pruning out afflicted leaves and rake up fall unity – your specimens should convalesce in meter .
You could also ameliorate air flow by pruning the crown , if you desire .
Ah , root rot : the nemesis of many moisture - love plant life .
Although the roots of cherry laurel love themselves some soil moistness , they also want oxygen .
But when the solution are inveterate deprived of O2 thanks to oversaturated soils , they can choke and die . And do n’t even get me started on the pathogen that to a fault - stiff conditions could boost !
These rotted roots can cause all sorts of issues above the soil origin , from greensickness to gangrene .
The best style to avoid this problem is to prevent it whole , so check that you do n’t overwater , and provide well - debilitate stain !
Cherry Laurel Best Uses
As you may think , the aesthetic gift of a cherry laurel lend this shrub to many landscape gardening diligence .
Its dull foliation defecate the bush a fantastic silver screen , hedge , or groundwork planting . Whether placed together in a pigeonholing or alone as a specimen , P. laurocerasusisn’t finical .
The flowers can pull in many pollenate dirt ball to your landscape , while the yield can draw beautiful birds to eat from and nest within the plant .
And I ’ve even try that the leaves make a hearty leafy backcloth for floral arrangements , if that ’s your matter .
Quick Reference Growing Guide
Rest on Your (Cherry) Laurels
Metaphorically , that is . footle atop aP. laurocerasuswould be pretty atrocious , for both someone and plant .
But hey , you ’re on your style towards have a cerise laurel in the solid ground , which is certainly commendable . And after growing and caring for one of these bad boys , you ’re certain to love ’em !
In need of otherPrunuspointers ? Then these guides will by all odds be a step in the right direction :
© Ask the Experts , LLC . ALL right RESERVED.See our TOSfor more inside information . Product photos via Bonide , FastGrowingTrees.com , Monterey , Nature Hills Nursery , and Scotts . Uncredited photos : Shutterstock .
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Joe Butler
