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Prunus laurocerasus Novita- Cherry Laurel

Prunus laurocerasus Novita
Cherry Laurel, Common Laurel, English Laurel

5,0/5
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Very beautiful young plants.

Florence, 25/10/2021

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This plant carries a 24 months recovery warranty

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Value-for-money
A great evergreen hedge shrub, this improvement of 'Rotundifolia' is distinguished by increased hardiness and healthier foliage than its parent. It possesses all the qualities to quickly create an effective screen both for privacy and as a windbreak. Fast-growing with bushy, rounded and vigorous foliage, it also offers beautiful white and airy flowers in spring. Suitable for all sites, in good garden soil.
Flower size
12 cm
Height at maturity
4 m
Spread at maturity
3 m
Exposure
Sun, Partial shade, Shade
Hardiness
Hardy down to -20°C
Soil moisture
Moist soil
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Best planting time October to November
Recommended planting time February to May, September to November
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Flowering time April to May
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Description

The Prunus laurocerasus 'Novita' is one of the best cherry laurels for harsh climates. This new variety of the widely planted cherry laurel 'Rotundifolia', has the same vigour as its parent, a more robust foliage and is very ornamental with its light green color and glossy finish. Large, compact and dense, attractive all year round, fast growing, tolerant of pruning this shrub is perfect for creating evergreen hedges that work well both as a screen and a windbreak. If left unpruned, it is adorned in spring with fluffy panicles of attractive creamy white, slightly fragrant flowers. 

Native to southeastern Europe and Asia Minor, indigenous to Iran, the Caucasus and Turkey, the Cherry Laurel, sometimes called Trabzon laurel, Almond laurel or Palm laurel, is an evergreen bush of the Rosaceae family. The 'Novita' cultivar was selected in Italy, around the 2000s, for its resistance to the cold and disease. It is both upright and bushy, rounded and well-branched at the base. At maturity, it will reach about 4m (13.1 ft) in height and 3m (9.8 ft) in width, if its lateral growth is not hindered. Its foliage is composed of large, leathery, glossy green leaves, the depth of colour varying on the nature of the soil; in chalky soil, it will lean towards light green, in acidic soil, towards dark green. The leaf blade is shiny on the top, lighter and matt on the underside and very decorative. The young shoots of a bright acid green develop into oval 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) appear at the end of the shoots. They are covered with tiny white flowers which are slightly fragrant and attractive to bees. In summer they give way to small ovoid fruits initially green then red, turning black when ripe, inedible but sought after by birds that spread the seeds.

Attention: The leaves, and all parts of the cherry laurel are toxic when ingested, except for the pulp of the fruit (the seed is toxic). They contain prussic acid (hydrocyanic acid), associated with an aromatic substance called benzaldehyde, with a bitter almond scent. A principle that is also found in the almonds of apricot and peach kernels. 

It is perfect for trimmed hedges, low or high. In a low hedge, it gives good privacy; in a high hedge, it forms an excellent windbreak and sound insulator. For planting in a hedge, make sure to space each plant 80 cm (2.6 ft) to 1 m (3.3 ft) apart. However, this 'Novita' laurel deserves better than repeated pruning which destroys its foliage and suppresses its lovely flowers: it looks good in an informal hedge, mixed with other evergreens (Elaeagnus ebbingei, Viburnum tinus, Rhamnus alaternus, Arbutus unedo, Photinia, Taxus (x) media, Pyracantha, holly...), or in a shrubbery. If the fruits develop to maturity, they will produce many young plants inside or outside the garden.

Prunus laurocerasus Novita- Cherry Laurel in pictures

Prunus laurocerasus Novita- Cherry Laurel (Foliage) Foliage
Prunus laurocerasus Novita- Cherry Laurel (Plant habit) Plant habit

Plant habit

Height at maturity 4 m
Spread at maturity 3 m
Habit Irregular, bushy
Growth rate fast

Flowering

Flower colour white
Flowering time April to May
Inflorescence Panicle
Flower size 12 cm
Fragrance slightly scented
Bee-friendly Attracts pollinators
Fruit colour red

Foliage

Foliage persistence Evergreen
Foliage colour medium green
Aromatic? Fragrant foliage when creased
Foliage description Smell of bitter almond when crushed.

Botanical data

Genus

Prunus

Species

laurocerasus

Cultivar

Novita

Family

Rosaceae

Other common names

Cherry Laurel, Common Laurel, English Laurel

Origin

Cultivar or hybrid

Product reference857102

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Planting and care

The Prunus laurocerasus 'Novita', very adaptable and easy to grow. It thrives in any well-prepared soil, not too chalky, moderately dry to moist. It tolerates all positions, prefers partial shade and withstands low temperatures well (around -18/-20°C (64,4/68°F)). Even if its above-ground parts can be damaged by very harsh frosts, it will produce vigorous shoots from the base. Long and intense periods of drought can destroy old plants. It is best to plant it in autumn or early spring in cooler regions.

Fairly resistant to diseases, 'Novita' may be affected by leaf spot, a fungal disease. These attacks occur in spring and autumn, resulting in small circular black spots perforating the leaves, which turn yellow and fall off. This disease does not endanger the plant but causes particularly unsightly damage and will spread to the entire laurel hedge. It can be treated preventively with a fungicidal product (Bordeaux mixture, sulfur), or by creating a mixed evergreen hedge when planting to avoid the spread of the disease when it occurs. Attacks by aphids, scale insects and powdery mildew can also threaten it in hot and dry weather.

It is worth noting that the use of a petrol hedge trimmer tends to damage the foliage. It is preferable to trim with shears if possible, or at least to finish with shears. Pruning can also prevent flowering.

Note: The decomposition of laurel leaves, which is very slow, releases substances into the leaf litter that inhibit the germination and growth of other plants. It is therefore preferable to dispose of the pruning waste at a waste disposal site and not to compost it.

Planting period

Best planting time October to November
Recommended planting time February to May, September to November

Intended location

Suitable for Woodland edge
Type of use Border, Back of border, Hedge
Hardiness Hardy down to -20°C (USDA zone 6b) Show map
Ease of cultivation Beginner
Planting density 1 per m2
Exposure Sun, Partial shade, Shade
Soil pH Neutral, Any
Soil type Clayey (heavy), Silty-loamy (rich and light), Stony (poor and well-drained)
Soil moisture Moist soil, Deep, not too chalky.

Care

Pruning instructions Tolerating repeated and severe pruning, these should be carried out in September and possibly at the end of winter, preferably using hedge shears or secateurs, to preserve the foliage which tends to brown if damaged by an electric hedge trimmer. Winter pruning removes the flowering.
Pruning Pruning recommended once a year
Pruning time February, September
Soil moisture Moist soil
Disease resistance Good
Overwinter Can be left in the ground
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