Otto Luyken's Laurel Prunus laurocerasus 'Otto Luyken'

The cultivar, 'Otto Luyken,'  was introduced in Germany in 1968 by Hesse Nurseries. 

'Otto Luyken' is best planted in full sun to partial shade, moist, well-drained, loamy soils. It tolerates shade and prefers it in hotter climates. The shrub is also tolerant of alkaline soils, dry and poor soils, pollution, and heavy pruning. It is moderately tolerant of salt but is intolerant of heavy fertilization. Free flowering can occur even in heavy shade. If pruning is required, it is best to prune after flowering has completed and use hand pruners. Avoid shearing, which will mutilate the leaves.

'Otto Luyken' cherry laurel is a compact evergreen shrub that grows to 3 to 4 feet tall and spreads to 6 to 8 feet. Over time, it can grow 6 to 10 feet tall. It has upright stems, dark green glossy leaves, and fragrant, small, creamy white, cup-shaped flowers that are arranged in 3- to 6-inch-long racemes. Flowering occurs from April to May. The flowers give way to small purple to black drupes in the late summer and fall. The leaves pointed upwards from the stems, which is a distinctive feature of this cultivar. The fruits are inedible and poisonous; therefore, exercise caution with children and pets. 

It is often confused with 'Zabeliana' in the trade, but that cultivar has a more upright growth form, growing taller than wide and spreading leaves. 'Otto Luyken' grows wider than tall and bears strongly ascending leaves at an angle of 45 to 60 degrees to the stem; both have entire leaves or occasionally one or two-minute teeth. Both are separated from 'Schipkaensis,' which has toothed margins toward the apex. 

Consider this cultivar as a hedge, screen, foundation, specimen, or mass planting in the home landscape, woodland, or shade garden.

Quick ID Hints:

• compact, dense, spreading broadleaf evergreen shrub
• leaves point upwards from the stems
• glossy, dark green leaves, lanceolate to oblong with entire margins
• creamy white, small cupped-shaped flowers arranged in 3- to 6-inch-long racemes
• red to purplish-black small, round drupes

Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: This cultivar has better pest resistance than other species in this genus. It is, however, susceptible to shot-hole disease, powdery mildew and root rot. To prevent shot-hole fungus, avoid overhead watering. Chlorosis can occur in poor chalky soils.

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.

More information on Prunus laurocerasus.