Prunus laurocerasus 'Otto Luyken'
Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- PROO-nus lore-oh-SAIR-uh-sis ah-tow LOO-ken
- This plant has high severity poison characteristics.
- See below
- Description
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'Otto Luyken' cherry laurel is a compact cultivar evergreen shrub that grows to 3-4 feet tall and spreads to 6-8 feet. Over time it can grow 6-10 feet tall; it is free-flowering so prune as needed after flowering. It blooms in spring, has a compact habit, and is free flowering even in heavy shade. It was introduced by Hesse Nurseries in Germany around 1968. It grows best in soils with high organic matter and good drainage. It tolerates shade and prefers it in hotter climates. It is often confused with 'Zabeliana' in trade which has more upright growth form, growing taller than wide ("refrigerator form") and spreading leaves. 'Otto Luyken' grows wider than tall ("freezer form") and bears strongly ascending leaves 45-60 degree angle to the stem; both have entire leaves or occasionally one or two minute teeth. Both are separated from 'Schipkaensis' by entire margins as 'Schipkaensis' is toothed toward the apex. 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 and pest and disease problems.
Awards: Award of Garden Merit (by RHS)
Seasons of Interest:
Bloom: Spring Fruit: Summer, black drupe
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: Susceptible to shot-hole disease, powdery mildew and root rot. Intolerant of heavy fertilization.
Quick ID Hints:
- Spreading evergreen shrub to 1 tall
- Leaves narrowly lanceolate, entire, strong ascending
- 2 glands present on leaf below near midrib
VIDEO created by Andy Pulte for “Landscape Plant Identification, Taxonomy and Morphology” a plant identification course offered by the Department of Plant Sciences, University of Tennessee.
- Profile Video:
- See this plant in the following landscapes:
- Water Koi Pond Paver Pathway
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Prunus
- Species:
- laurocerasus
- Family:
- Rosaceae
- Wildlife Value:
- Fruits are relished by birds.
- Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems):
- Better disease resistance than most other species in the genus Prunus. Moderately tolerant of salt.
- Dimensions:
- Height: 3 ft. 0 in. - 4 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 6 ft. 0 in. - 8 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Poisonous
- Shrub
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Habit/Form:
- Creeping
- Dense
- Growth Rate:
- Rapid
- Maintenance:
- Low
- Texture:
- Medium
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
- Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Available Space To Plant:
- 3 feet-6 feet
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Black
- Purple/Lavender
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Summer
- Fruit Type:
- Berry
- Fruit Length:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- Globose-ovoid berry-like drupe, that is purple-black in color and less than an inch in size.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Raceme
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Fragrant
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Flower Petals:
- 7 - 20 petals/rays
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- Inflorescence is a dense, cylindrical raceme to 10 cm in leaf axils. Flowers are white and small with 7 petals and showy anthers.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Shape:
- Lanceolate
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- 3-6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- < 1 inch
- Leaf Description:
- Leaves are lustrous, alternate, simple, lanceolate, entire, with at least 2 conspicuous glands on the underside of the leaf blade near the midrib.
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Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Description:
- Twigs are green.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Woodland
- Landscape Theme:
- Pollinator Garden
- Shade Garden
- Design Feature:
- Hedge
- Mass Planting
- Screen/Privacy
- Attracts:
- Pollinators
- Songbirds
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Dry Soil
- Heavy Shade
- Pollution
- Poor Soil
- Salt
- Urban Conditions
- Problems:
- Problem for Cats
- Problem for Dogs
- Problem for Horses
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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
- Stems