Prunus laurocerasus - Cherry Laurel

The Prunus laurocerasus 'Rotundifolia' is a variety of Cherry Laurel or Palm Laurel perfect for creating evergreen screens with strong shading power and windbreak. This bush stands out for its vigor and the density of its foliage, which is also more rounded than that of the species. Depending on your budget, the length of your hedge, your patience, and the time you can dedicate to gardening, different types of products are available to you.

- For an economical cherry laurel hedge, opt for 9 cm pots that you can plant all year round. The soil preparation should be meticulous (careful weeding, removal of all roots, planting trench), and it is preferable to lay a sheet at the base of the shrubs to limit the germination of adventive plants and the weeding work, while they establish themselves. Once established, they grow quickly and will soon catch up with their cultivated counterparts in pots. This is the most economical solution when it comes to creating a hedge of at least 10 m (32.8 ft) in length.

- For a fast-growing cherry laurel hedge or to fill in an existing hedge, your choice will be bushes in 3.5-liter, 7.5 to 10-liter, or even 18-liter pots. Potted shrubs can be planted all year round, except during freezing or heatwave periods. They are planted in individual planting pits, like all other shrubs in the garden. While they make an immediate impact, they take a little longer to "start" and will require more frequent and regular watering, especially when it is dry in summer.

Respect the proper planting distance according to the size of your plant! It is advisable to leave a space of 60 cm (23.6 in) between each plant for plants in pots, 70 to 80 cm (31.5 in) for plants in 2 or 3-liter pots, 80 cm (31.5 in) to 1 m (3.3 ft) for pots from 4 to 10 liters, and 1 m (3.3 ft) to 1.2 m (3.9 ft) for pots larger than 10 liters.

As for the height of your hedge: apart from specific specifications for a housing development or a condominium, the Civil Code applies: if trees and shrubs are taller than 2 m (6.6 ft), they must be planted at a minimum distance of 2 m (6.6 ft) from the property boundary. If the height is less than 2 m (6.6 ft), a minimum distance of 50 cm (19.7 in) is required. The planting distance is calculated from the separating boundary to the center of the tree. The height is measured from the ground to the tip of the plant.

Loved by gardeners in all regions, the Prunus laurocerasus 'Rotundifolia' withstands pruning well, is hardy, grows fast, and is easy to cultivate in ordinary soil. It develops beautiful green and glossy foliage and adorns itself in spring, if not pruned, with fluffy white-cream panicles of attractive, slightly fragrant flowers.

Native to southeastern Europe and Asia Minor and indigenous to Iran, the Caucasus, and Turkey, the Cherry Laurel (sometimes called Trabzon Laurel, almond laurel, or palm laurel) is an evergreen shrub of the rose family.

The cultivar 'Rotundifolia' has, as its name suggests, leaves which are more rounded at their tips, and denser vegetation. The habit of this shrub is both erect and bushy, well-branched at the base. At maturity, it will reach approximately 4m (13.1 ft) in height and 3m (9.8 ft) in width, if not hindered in its lateral development. Its foliage consists of large, leathery leaves which are shiny green and more or less intense depending on the nature of the soil. In limestone soil it will tend towards light green and in acidic soil, towards dark green. The lamina is shiny on the top, lighter and matte on the underside, very decorative. The light green young shoots develop into ovate and elongated leaves, 15 to 18 cm (7.1 in) long and 5 cm (2 in) wide. In April-May, upright clusters of 10 to 12 cm (4.7 in) covered in tiny white flowers appear at the ends of the shoots, visited by bees. They give way, in summer, to small ovoid fruits that are initially green, then turn red, and become black when ripe. They are not edible but sought after by birds that spread the seeds.

Attention: The leaves and all parts of the cherry laurel are toxic if ingested, except for the pulp of the fruit (the seed is toxic). They contain prussic acid (cyanide), associated with an aromatic substance called benzaldehyde, with a bitter almond odour - also found in e.g. apricot and peach kernels.

This Cherry Laurel is one of the most commonly used shrubs in Europe for creating screen hedges. It has all the qualities required to excel as a low or high trimmed hedge. As a low hedge, it protects against prying eyes; as a high hedge, it forms an excellent windbreak and a good sound insulator. That said, this 'Rotundifolia' palm laurel rewards better treatment than just repeated pruning which damages its foliage and suppresses its charming flowering at an early stage: it looks good in a free hedge, mixed with other evergreens (Elaeagnus ebbingei, Viburnum tinus, Rhamnus alaternus, Arbutus unedo, Photinia), or in a shrub bed. If the fruits develop to maturity they will give rise to many young plants inside or outside the garden.