Prunus laurocerasus
Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- PROO-nus law-roh-ser-AY-sus
- This plant has high severity poison characteristics.
- See below
- Description
-
Cherry laurel is an evergreen shrub or small tree in the Roseaceae (rose) family native to Europe. With its erect habit and glossy green leaves this plant grows up to 20' tall and can spread to 10 feet wide.
This plant blooms in the spring with sickeningly fragrant flowers that bloom even in heavy shade. It is generally a larger plant with larger, broader leaves than dwarf cultivars 'Otto Luyken' or 'Schipkaensis'. It is often confused with Ilex latifolia as both have similar looking foliage, growth form, and screening abilities. Glands on the lower leaf blade distinguish the cherry laurels, and glands next to the midrib separate this species from P. carolinana.
This plant is tolerant of alkaline soils, dry and poor soils, pollution, and heavy pruning. It is moderately tolerant to salt but is intolerant of heavy fertilization. It has a rapid growth rate with competitive roots.
Use as a screen for shaded areas or a tall hedge. Plant it in mass in a woodland or shade garden, or even use it as a specimen plant.
Quick ID Hints:
- Semi-circular stipular scar; leaves have cherry odor when bruised
- Leaf is evergreen, coriaceous, broad elliptic-oblong
- 2-8 glands on underside of leaf blade base near midrib
- Inflorescences axillary racemes
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: Better resistance than most other species in the genus Prunus. Susceptible to shot-hole disease, powdery mildew, and root rot. This plant has escaped cultivation on the Pacific coast west of the Cascades and is classified there as a weed of concern.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Magnoliifolia'
Large to 25' tall large leaves resembles magnolias - 'Majestic Jade'
- 'Marbled Dragon'
Variegated blotches of white on leaves, small plant
'Otto Luyken'
- 'West Coast Schipkaensis'
Compact cultivar 3'-4' tall 6'-8' wide 'Schipkaensis'
Goblet shaped and grows up to 6.5' high
Narrow willow-like, lustrous dark green leaves; 3 to 4 in. long - 'Magnoliifolia'
- 'Magnoliifolia', 'Majestic Jade', 'Marbled Dragon', 'Otto Luyken', 'Schipkaensis', 'West Coast Schipkaensis', 'Zabeliana'
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Magnoliifolia'
Large to 25' tall large leaves resembles magnolias - 'Majestic Jade'
- 'Marbled Dragon'
Variegated blotches of white on leaves, small plant
'Otto Luyken'
- 'West Coast Schipkaensis'
Compact cultivar 3'-4' tall 6'-8' wide 'Schipkaensis'
Goblet shaped and grows up to 6.5' high
Narrow willow-like, lustrous dark green leaves; 3 to 4 in. long - 'Magnoliifolia'
- 'Magnoliifolia', 'Majestic Jade', 'Marbled Dragon', 'Otto Luyken', 'Schipkaensis', 'West Coast Schipkaensis', 'Zabeliana'
- Tags:
-
-
Attributes:
- Genus:
- Prunus
- Species:
- laurocerasus
- Family:
- Rosaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Woody
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Europe
- Distribution:
- CA, OR, WA, British Columbia
- Wildlife Value:
- This is a larval host plant to Eastern Tiger Swallowtail (Papilio glaucus). You may see three flights from February-November in the deep south and two flights from May-September in the north. Fruits are relished by birds.
- Play Value:
- Wildlife Food Source
- Dimensions:
- Height: 10 ft. 0 in. - 20 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 8 ft. 0 in. - 10 ft. 0 in.
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-
Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Perennial
- Poisonous
- Shrub
- Tree
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Habit/Form:
- Dense
- Oval
- Rounded
- Spreading
- Growth Rate:
- Rapid
- Texture:
- Medium
-
-
Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
- Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight)
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- High Organic Matter
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Alkaline (>8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Available Space To Plant:
- 6-feet-12 feet
- 12-24 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b
-
-
Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Black
- Purple/Lavender
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Summer
- Fruit Type:
- Drupe
- Fruit Length:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Width:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- Fruits are globose-ovoid berry-like drupes that are purple-black in color and less than an inch in size.
-
-
Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Raceme
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Fragrant
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Flower Petals:
- 4-5 petals/rays
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- Flowers are white, fragrant, less than an inch in size, and have 20 stamens. Inflorescence is an axillary, dense, cylindrical raceme that grows up to 4" long.
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-
Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Glossy
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Shape:
- Elliptical
- Oblong
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Serrate
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- > 6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- 3-6 inches
- Leaf Description:
- Leaves are alternate, simple, coriaceous, oblong to elliptic, acuminate, cuneate to rounded, serrate to nearly entire, lustrous medium to dark green above, and 10" long and 5" wide. Leaves have 2-8 conspicuous glands on blade underside and near base and next to the midrib.
-
-
Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Description:
- Twigs are green and have a cherry odor when bruised. Pith is pale of brown and continuous. They have semi-circular stipular scars.
-
-
Landscape:
- Landscape Theme:
- Butterfly Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Design Feature:
- Flowering Tree
- Hedge
- Screen/Privacy
- Small Tree
- Attracts:
- Butterflies
- Pollinators
- Songbirds
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Dry Soil
- Heavy Shade
- Pollution
- Poor Soil
- Salt
- Problems:
- Malodorous
- Problem for Cats
- Problem for Dogs
- Problem for Horses
-
-
Poisonous to Humans:
- Poison Severity:
- High
- Poison Symptoms:
- Gasping, weakness, excitement, pupil dilation, spasms, convulsions, coma, respiratory failure Stems, leaves, seeds contain cyanide, particularly toxic in the process of wilting: brick red mucous membranes, panting, shock.
- Poison Toxic Principle:
- Cyanogenic glycoside, amygdalin
- Causes Contact Dermatitis:
- No
- Poison Part:
- Leaves
- Seeds
- Stems
