Plant Profile: Prunus laurocerasus

Cherry Laurel is a robust evergreen shrub or small tree that can reach heights of up to 20 feet, characterized by its dense and wide-spreading form. It produces fragrant blooms in the spring and has a growth habit that allows it to spread twice its height. This plant is known for its strong, sweet scent and prolific flowering, even in shaded conditions. Compared to dwarf varieties like 'Otto Luyken' or 'Schipkaensis', it typically features larger and broader leaves. It is often mistaken for Ilex latifolia due to similarities in foliage, growth structure, and screening capabilities. However, the presence of glands on the underside of the leaves helps to identify cherry laurels, while glands adjacent to the midrib differentiate it from P. carolinana.

Cherry Laurel is adaptable to various soil conditions, including alkaline, dry, and poor soils, and it can withstand pollution and heavy pruning. It shows moderate salt tolerance but does not respond well to excessive fertilization. With a rapid growth rate and competitive root system, this plant can face challenges from viral and fungal diseases, as well as pest infestations. It serves as an effective screen for shaded areas, but care should be taken to avoid over-fertilizing. This plant can endure significant pruning and is suitable for use as a tall hedge, a mass planting in woodland or shade gardens, or even as a standout specimen. However, it has become invasive in some regions, particularly on the Pacific coast west of the Cascades, where it is regarded as a problematic weed.

In terms of pests and diseases, Cherry Laurel generally exhibits better resistance than many other species within the Prunus genus, though it can still be vulnerable to shot-hole disease, powdery mildew, and root rot.

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