Prunus laurocerasus Otto Luyken - Cherry Laurel

Prunus laurocerasus 'Otto Luyken' is a compact and dense variety of cherry laurel. Vigorous, hardy, small, and easy to grow, it is ideally suited for creating splendid low hedges, thanks to its beautiful evergreen and bushy foliage. In spring, clusters of fragrant white flowers appear, followed by toxic berries.

Belonging to the Rosaceae family, Prunus laurocerasus is originally from southeastern Europe and Asia Minor. 'Otto Luyken' is an evergreen variety with a spreading and rounded habit, and dense and vigorous growth, measuring 1.5 m (4.9 ft) in height and width. Its beautiful evergreen foliage is composed of very narrow, upright, dark green leaves, measuring 8 cm to 10 cm (3.1in to 3.9 in) in length. Being shiny on the top and lighter and matt on the underside of the leaves, this foliage is very decorative. In April-May, it serves as a backdrop for an abundant flowering of creamy-white, fragrant flowers carried by short upright clusters 10 cm to 12 cm (3.9 in to 4.7 in) long. In summer, it produces small red ovoid fruits that turn black when ripe. The fruits are toxic. A second flowering occurs in late summer, if the bush is not pruned.

It is undemanding in terms of soil and exposure. Perfectly suited to pruning, it is an ideal variety for creating dense, trimmed, or untrimmed hedges. It provides privacy and acts as a very good sound insulator. When planting, make sure to space each plant 60 cm (23.6 in) apart. It can also be planted with other shrubs, or even as a standalone. It is well suited for container cultivation on a terrace or balcony.

Attention: The leaves, fruits, and all parts of the cherry laurel are toxic. They contain hydrocyanic acid.