Scientific Name:
Prunus laurocerasus
Pronunciation:
PROO-nus lore-oh-SAIR-uh-sis
Common Name:
English laurel, cherry laurel
Family Name:
Rosaceae
Plant Type:
Broadleaf evergreen, Invasive plant, Weed (horticultural)
Key ID Features:
Very large, fast-growing, evergreen shrub, up to 8m tall (smaller cvs. available), often used in hedges; leaves alternate, most oblong-obovate, 8-12(-20)cm long x 2-6cm wide, apex acute, margins serrate, glossy green, midrib yellowish-green, petioles 5-15mm long; racemes of white flowers ~7mm wide, Apr-May; drupes maturing black, Aug.
Habit:
Dense, Stiffly upright
Form:
Round
Texture:
Medium - coarse
Mature Height:
7 - 10m
Mature Spread:
7 - 10m
Growth Rate:
Fast
Origin:
Europe
Hardiness Rating:
Zone 6: (-23 to -18 °C)
Exposure:
Part sun/part shade
Soil/Growing Medium:
Acidic, Well-drained
Water Use:
Moderate
Landscape Uses:
Attract beneficial insects, Hedge row, Screening
Additional Info:
Leaf Morphology:
Form:
Simple
Arrangement:
Alternate
Texture/Venation:
Leathery, Pinnate venation
Surfaces:
Glabrous
Colour in Fall:
Green
Shapes:
Oblong, Obovate
Apices:
Acute
Bases:
Cuneate
Margins:
Serrate
Inflorescence Type:
Raceme
Flower Morphology:
Flowers perfect
Number Of Petals:
5
Corolla Shape:
Funnelform
Ovary Position:
Inferior
Colour (petals):
Showy, White
Flower Scent:
Fragrant
Flower Time at Peak:
Apr, May
Fruit Type:
Drupe
Fruit Colour:
Red, Black
Fruiting Time:
Jul, Aug
Additional Info:
Showy
Bark Morphology:
Lightly fissured
Bark or Stem Colour:
Grey, Brown
Propagation:
Softwood cuttings
Maintenance:
Medium
Other:
Regular pruning required to control size
Pest Susceptibility:
Bacterial leaf spot, Caterpillar or cutworm, Diptera - true flies, Fungal leaf spot, Nematodes, Root rot, Scale insects (Rabbit resistant)
