Common Laurel, Cherry Laurel, and English Laurel are different common names for the same plant. Prunus Laurocerasus is its botanical name. At present, Cherry Laurel is one of the most common options of a hedge in Ireland because of its diversities and suitable features with the weather.
1. Description
Cherry Laurel is an evergreen shrub or small tree that grows up to 20′ tall and is dense and wide-spreading. This plant blooms in the spring and grows in full sun or deep shade. They are all hardy and will tolerate temperatures down to -23oC. It is sickeningly fragrant and free-flowering, even in heavy shade. Cherry Laurel can tolerate most soils except waterlogged or very shallow, chalky soils where they may become very pale (chlorotic). It has a rapid growth rate with competitive roots. One notice of Cherry Laurel is that it can moderately tolerant to salt but is intolerant of heavy fertilization. Thus, Cherry Laurel should avoid excessive fertilizer.
2. 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. Moreover, Cherry Laurel is such a high poisonous species to human and animals because of poison toxic such as Cyanogenic glycoside and Amygdalin. Leaves, seeds, and stems are poison parts. This poison can cause shock and panting for any objects.
3. The Family of Cherry Laurel (Prunus laurocerasus)
- Prunus Laurocerasus: is the original species of Cherry Laurel. With the feature of such a quick-growing, evergreen, and wide-spreading shrub, it can grow up to 15ft – 18ft in height.
- Prunus Laurocerasus “Rotundifolia“: is a new species of Cherry Laurel. However, it grows bushier and more upright than others in the family. Moreover, “Rotundifolia” in its name means rotund foliage or rounded leaf. Rotundifolia is quick-growing putting on about 60cm (2ft) a year under good growing conditions. Rotundifolia will grow to 5-6m (15-18ft) tall if left untrimmed but can be pruned to any height to form a dense, evergreen hedge. Because of the features of “Rotundifolia”, it is still the most suitable for hedging in Ireland. See more Prunus Laurocerasus “Rotundifolia”
- Prunus Laurocerasus “Novita”: is developed based on the features of Rotundifolia. Novita is hardier than its counterpart but it has large rounded leaves like Rotundifolia and grows to a similar height of 5-6m (15-18ft) tall. It is also quick-growing putting on about 60cm (2ft) a year under good growing conditions. Novita can tolerate very low temperatures of arctic winter.
- Prunus Laurocerasus “Caucasia”: is one of the fast-growing types of Cherry Laurel. However, it is not as common as Rotundifolia in Ireland because of the narrower leaves. Caucasica will grow up to 60cm (2ft) a year under good growing conditions and will grow to 5-6m (15-18ft) tall if left untrimmed.
- Prunus Laurocerasus “Otto Luyken”: is a low-growing variety of laurel with narrow, dark green leaves. It is often planted en-masse by landscapers as ground cover. Ultimate Height 1.2m (4ft), Spread 1.5m (5ft)
- Prunus Laurocerasus “ETNA”: was a seedling of Rotundifolia raised in Germany. It has bronze leaves when young that turn a glossy dark green. The leaves are slightly more curled at the edges than Rotundifolia. Etna’s habit of growth is more compact and as a result its rate of growth is slightly slower and its ultimate height is shorter, growing to approximately 3m (10ft). According to some reports, it will tolerate temperatures of -27oC.
- Prunus Laurocerasus “Zabelliana”: is a low-growing variety with a narrow leaf, although the leaf is more rounded than that of Otto Luyken. Ultimate Height 1.2m (4ft), Spread 1.5m (5ft)
Here provides the information on cherry laurel if you want to research more.
