Prunus Laurocerasus - Laurel

Prunus laurocerasus, commonly known as Laurel or Cherry Laurel, is a fast-growing evergreen shrub prized for its large, glossy leaves and dense growth habit. Often planted as a hedge, Laurel quickly forms a thick screen, providing year-round privacy and wind protection. Its spikes of sweetly scented white flowers in spring are followed by red berries that ripen to black in autumn, offering food and shelter for wildlife.

Laurel is highly versatile: it can be planted as a shrub, layered to create a large plant, or trained into a small tree. It thrives in dry or damp shade, tolerates wet soil, and is wind-resistant, making it ideal for formal hedges, screens, game cover, and ornamental planting.

This is the size and type we sell: Prunus laurocerasus Laurel 20–40cm Cell Grown, professionally grown and suitable for hedges, screens, or specimen planting.

Features & Benefits

Fast-growing evergreen shrub or small tree

Large glossy leaves provide dense year-round privacy

Sweetly scented white flowers in spring attract pollinators

Red berries ripen to black in autumn, supporting birds

Tolerates dry, damp, and wet shade; wind-resistant

Ideal for hedges, screens, game cover, or ornamental planting

Applications

Formal or informal hedges and privacy screens

Mixed or native hedgerows

Ornamental shrub or small tree in gardens and parks

Wildlife-friendly planting supporting pollinators and birds

Windbreaks for gardens or exposed areas

Height & Spread (Approximate)

After 10 years: 5m height x 3m spread

After 20 years: 6m height x 5m spread

Growth assumes suitable site conditions.

Botanical Name | Prunus laurocerasus

Common Name | Laurel

Plant Type | Evergreen shrub / small tree

Growth Rate | Fast

Mature Height | Up to 6m

Mature Spread | Up to 5m

Soil Type | Dry, damp, or wet soils; well-drained preferred

Aspect | Full sun to partial shade

Hardiness | Fully hardy in the UK

Plant Size & Type | 20–40cm Cell Grown

Maintenance | Prune hedges in August; older plants can be cut back to ground level in spring

Wildlife Value | Flowers attract bees, hoverflies, ants, and wasps; berries feed birds; provides shelter for small mammals