Straightforward advice for planting and mature easy - care , evergreen cherry red laurel as a tree or bush .
cherry tree laurel(Prunus laurocerasus)welcomes leaping with boldly fragrant blossoms . The 4- to 6 - inch - recollective flower spikes are popular with pollinators . After the flowers slicing , cherry tree laurel wreath produces purple - black fruit that is a food source for songbirds . Glossy , evergreen plant leafage make this promiscuous - to - grow bush an first-class flora for amixed shrub border , hedge , or substructure planting . It also can be farm as a little tree .
The leave , seeds , yield , and halt of cherry tree laurel wreath are toxic to humans and favourite .

Credit:Robert Cardillo
Robert Cardillo
Where to Plant Cherry Laurel
Cherry Stan Laurel is prized for its power togrow in full sunor deep shade . In Zones 6 and 7 , this bush or modest tree diagram grows best in Sunday or shade , while in zone 8 and 9 , it does well inpartial nicety to full shade . Cherry laurel prefers loose , well - drain , fertile filth but tolerates inadequate , arenaceous , and cadaver soil . Do n’t plant it in mucky , wet soil . It is deer - resistant and drought - tolerant and tolerates salt spray .
How and When to Plant Cherry Laurel
flora cherry laurel in former bounce or decline . travail a planting hole slightly larger than theshrub or tree ’s root ball . fix the root egg in the trap so that the top of the root nut is even with the surrounding territory . Backfill the planting hole with the native soil and water the plant deeply . Cover the root zone with a2 - inch - thick bed of mulchto reduce land moisture loss .
Water the newly plant cerise bay wreath as needed to obtain about 1 in of water per week . After two months , the plant should have launch a robust origin scheme in the native soil , and supplemental lacrimation can be reduced . water system as require during periods of drought .
Denny Schrock

Credit:Denny Schrock
Cherry Laurel Care Tips
Light
Cherry laurel raise best in part to full shade in zone 8 and 9 and grows well in full Dominicus or shade in Zones 6 and 7 . In blistering area , such as the Deep South , it benefits from some afternoon tad . It also produce in deep shade and thrives , but it grows slowly there .
Soil and Water
Cherry laurel grows well in medium , well - drained soil , but it tolerates dry soil and Henry Clay once it is build . After it recrudesce a rich ascendant organization , cherry laurel is drought - tolerant . It also tolerates salty status . Do not plant cerise laurel in a wet , soggy web site . Water cherry bay wreath on a regular basis for the first two calendar month after planting . After that , water as call for during prolonged teetotal periods .
Temperature and Humidity
Heat and humidness are no problem for cherry laurel . This hard bush is beloved for its power to blossom , fruit , and thrive through tenacious periods of high heating plant and humidity . In Zones 8 and 9 , plant it where it take in good afternoon shade to shield it from the most vivid heat of the day .
Fertilizer
Fertilizer is not required . If desired , fertilize plants in early leaping by spread a 2 - inch - thick stratum of well - decomposed compost over the root zone or expend anall - use fertilizeraccording to the product instructions .
Pruning
Prune cherry red Stan Laurel in springtime after the efflorescence slice . When institute in ideal growing condition — moist , well - debilitate land and Dominicus or shade — cherry tree bay wreath grows apace andrequires regular pruningto keep it in bounds . cherry tree laurel digest fleece well and can be sculpted into a formal shape , but it is easy to maintain when it is allow to develop a raw var. .
Potting and Repotting
cerise laurel can turn in a container that offer effective drainage . It is tender to overwatering and prefers to grow in well - drain soil that is allowed to dry out more or less between waterings . Water cherry laurel growing in a container with care . The industrial plant is a quick raiser , so it may outgrow its container . When it does , choose a large container for repotting , or replant the cherry bay wreath outside in the garden .
Pests and Problems
Cherry laurel is inconvenience oneself by few pests . plague and diseases are typically problematical only on trees that grow in stressful surround . uttermost drought , wet or sloppy grime , and full sun in Zones 8 and 9 can make weak increment that make the plant susceptible to pest and disease problem . Aphids , mites , and peachtree borers can be problematic on stressed plants . Useneem oilto treat these unwanted pests .
How to Propagate Cherry Laurel
Propagate cherry tree Arthur Stanley Jefferson Laurel withstem cuttings . Cut 6 - 8 inches from the tips of healthy stems . Remove any leave-taking from the lower one-half of the cuttings and tailor half off any remaining leave . Dip the bottom half of each cutting into rooting hormone and plant it in a small pot filled with well - draining potting soil . Water the soil , but do n’t make it miry .
range a clear plastic old bag over the cut and pot , and place it in a quick , shiny location with a temperature of about 65 ° F to 75 ° fluorine . Monitor it and piddle only when necessitate to maintain moist territory . It takes only a few weeks for the cuttings to acquire root .
Types of Cherry Laurel
There are several cherry laurel cultivars . Each cultivar differs by size and sometimes development habit . Common cultivars include :
Schipka
Schipka cherry laurel(Prunus laurocerasus‘Schipkaensis ’ ) is an vertical shrub with a vase shape . Its fragrant , white flowers come along in bounce . With its narrow-minded base , it ’s perfect for perennial borders or adding to a interracial shrub planting . It grows 10 to 15 foot marvelous and 5 to 7 feet wide . It brook alkaline ground . Zones 5–9
Volcano
Volcano cherry tree laurel ( Prunus laurocerasus‘Jong1 ’ ) has a rounded , compact form . Its new leaves emerge with dark red tones and age to bright light-green in summertime . It grows 4 to 6 feet tall and 4 to 5 feet wide-eyed . This summary cerise laurel is double-dyed for filling in empty spaces in the landscape . Zones 6–9
Greenfinity
Greenfinity cherry bay wreath ( Prunus laurocerasus‘Greenfinity ’ ) produces small blank flowers in give and has bright green fresh increase that matures to fat green in summertime . It grows 4 to 5 feet tall and 3 to 4 feet wide . Zones 5 - 10
Cherry Laurel Companion Plants
Pair cherry tree laurel with other easy - to - grow flowering shrubs for a colorful hedge planting that attracts pollinators .
Rhododendron
Rhododendrons(and their little cousins , azalea ) are prized for their glossy green leaf and showy clusters of spring peak . The most coarse bloom colors are purpleness and garden pink , but there are also white and ointment varieties . Most rhododendrons prefer a shady locating , but a few newfangled change are available for sunny areas .
Arrowwood Viburnum
Arrowwood viburnumis an upright bush that offer a good show of orangish - yellow fall color , clump of ashen flowers in spring to former summer , and blue - pitch-black fruits in fall . It grows 10 substructure tall and wide . It is number as invasive in a few northeast body politic , so check with a horticultural expert before planting in those areas . Zones 3 - 8
Gardenia
Gardeniasare cognize for their intoxicate sweet aroma produced by waxy white bloom . These beautiful evergreen plants boast shiny , emerald - unripened leafage . A unparalleled trait of gardenia blossoms is that they typically blossom as a bright , clean white and slice to a creamy yellow as they age . The plants grow from 3 to 10 human foot tall . zone 8 - 10 .
Potentilla
Potentillahas crisp , smashing leaf and charming flowers that resemble anemones . It grows to only 3 foot magniloquent and somewhat wider . This hardy shrub blossom in a broad color stove over a farseeing period from tardy spring to autumn , draw in pollinator . When the leaves omit in fall , a reddish peeling bark is revealed . Zones 2–7
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes , birds are attracted to the blue - calamitous yield when it ripen . Expect flocks of songbird to gobble up the fruit quickly . However , cerise bay wreath yield is toxic to humans and pets and should not be eaten by them .
Prune an overgrown cherry Stan Laurel tree over time . Cut woody stems back by one - third of their length over two or three age until the desired size is achieved . water system the bush or tree well after pruning to support healthy increment .
Cherry laurel is a tight - growing tree or shrub . Expect it to put on as much as 25 inch of young growing a year . However , it is well-fixed to keep in spring with regular pruning .

Credit: Bob Stefko
genus Prunus laurocerasus . NC State Extension

Credit: Bill Stites

Credit: Denny Schrock

Credit: Stephen Cridland