Prunus laurocerasus Zabeliana - Cherry Laurel

Prunus laurocerasus 'Zabeliana' is a small variety very resistant to cold, with a low and spreading habit. This evergreen bush forms a wide, fairly sturdy, well-branched and compact shrub, tending to develop horizontally. It bears large narrow leaves, pointed and glossy dark green. If not pruned, this cherry laurel presents white flowers in erect clusters in May and then a second, more abundant flowering in September. It is a versatile cultivar for small and large gardens, exceptional as ground cover on slopes as well as low hedges, shrub borders or in containers! It has no specific requirements in terms of exposure and accepts all deep, well-drained soils which are not too dry, with little limestone.

Native to southeastern Europe and Asia Minor, indigenous to Iran, the Caucasus, and Turkey, the Cherry Laurel, sometimes almond laurel, is an evergreen shrub of the Rosaceae family. They are fairly hardy evergreen shrubs, easy to grow in ordinary soil, not demanding in terms of exposure and tolerant of pruning. It also tolerates salt spray and pollution. For soils with a tendency towards limestone choose Portuguese laurel varieties. The cultivar 'Zabeliana' is distinguished in particular by its sturdy shape and lanceolate foliage. Of medium growth, it reaches 1m (3.3ft) in height and 2.5m (8ft) in width. Hardy down to -20°C (-4°F), its foliage is composed of large narrow, elongated leaves, 9 to 15cm (3.5 to 5.9 in) long and 2cm (0.8 in) wide, ending in fine points, leathery and shiny green which is more or less intense depending on the soil. In limestone soil, it will be light green, in acidic soil, dark green. The leaf is shiny on the top, lighter and matte on the underside and very decorative. In spring and autumn, small erect clusters of tiny, white, fragrant, flowers 15 to 18cm (5.9 to 7.1 in) long and visited by bees, appear at the ends of the shoots. They give way to small ovoid fruits, initially green, then red and finally dark purple, becoming black when ripe, toxic to humans but sought after by birds that spread the seeds.

The Cherry Laurel is one of the most commonly used shrubs today for creating screen hedges. It possesses all the required qualities to excel in trimmed hedges, whether low or high. The 'Zabeliana' variety excels in medium hedges, informal or trimmed, forming structural boundaries, both decorative and perennial without completely obstructing the views. For planting in a hedge, make sure to space each plant by 80cm (31.5 in) to 1m (3.3ft). The cherry laurel 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 shrub border mixed with deciduous plants, where it will bring colour during the winter. With its wide growth, this variety forms a luxuriant shrubby ground cover on a slope or in the shaded background of borders with low shrubs and perennials. It is also a perfectly adapted subject for container cultivation on a terrace or balcony, or as a standalone plant to mark corners, entrances, and passages, in larger gardens. If the fruits develop to maturity, they will give rise to many young plants inside or outside the garden.

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 (hydrocyanic acid), associated with an aromatic substance called benzaldehyde, with the smell of bitter almond.