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Glossy dark green cherry laurel foliage with white flower racemesShrubs

Prunus laurocerasus

Cherry Laurel

hedgingevergreenbird-friendlyfast-growingshade-tolerant

Cherry Laurel is a popular, evergreen shrub with large, glossy dark green leaves. It bears white flower racemes in April and May, followed by black berries loved by birds. Widely used as a hedging plant thanks to its fast growth and dense, year-round screen.

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Characteristics

Sun
Partial shade, Full sun
Water
Medium
Height
300–600 cm
Spread
200–400 cm
Hardiness zone
6–8
Family
Rosaceae
Evergreen
Yes
Flower colors
white
Wildlife value
bees, birds

Bloom period

Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec

Care guide

Plant in partial shade or full sun in almost any soil type. Water regularly in the first year. Once established, Cherry Laurel is drought-tolerant. Fertilise in spring with an organic feed for vigorous growth.

Pruning tips

Trim hedges twice a year: late June and early September. Use secateurs rather than hedge trimmers to avoid leaf damage. Overgrown specimens tolerate hard renovation pruning to old wood in spring.

Good companions

Neatly trimmed yew hedge in a green gardenTrees

Taxus baccata

English Yew

English Yew is an evergreen conifer used both as a freestanding tree and as a formal hedge. Its dark green needles are densely packed and form an impenetrable screen. Female trees bear striking red berries in autumn. All parts except the berry flesh are poisonous.

Full shadeMedium1000–2000 cm
Neatly clipped boxwood sphere in a formal gardenShrubs

Buxus sempervirens

Boxwood

Boxwood is an evergreen shrub with small, glossy dark green leaves that is ideal for topiary and hedging. The plant grows slowly and can live for hundreds of years. Small green-yellow flowers appear in April and May, attracting early bees.

Partial shadeMedium100–500 cm
English holly with glossy dark green spiny leaves and red berriesTrees

Ilex aquifolium

English Holly

English Holly is a stately, evergreen tree with glossy, spiny dark green leaves that provide a magnificent backdrop in winter. Female specimens bear bright red berries that are indispensable winter food for birds. The tree grows slowly but can live for centuries.

Partial shadeMedium500–1500 cm