In some cases, the English laurel was growing as a single tree or in small, patchy populations, but in other cases, there were substantial populations noted that included a range of ages from seedlings to fruiting trees. Also, monitor the area for seedlings and pull them up. 1 Review Add Your Review. Ornamental Features. Leaving stems on moist ground might result in some stem-rooting, but it is unlikely, and if stems are chipped this shouldn't be a problem. For large infestations or steep slopes, digging may not be the best method. 6717. Cherry Laurel (Prunus laurocerasus) Also known as the English Laurel, this is a hardy laurel that is very popular in the southern part of the United States. Glendurgan’s maze at Glendurgan National Trust Garden in Cornwall is made completely from Cherry Laurel. Although it is legal to sell and grow it in Washington, English laurel is classified as a Weed of Concern in King County and its control is recommended in natural areas that are being restored to native vegetation and in protected forest lands. Native to southwestern Asia and southeastern Europe, this species has been widely introduced in Europe and North America, and has escaped cultivation in many areas, including the Pacific Northwest. Also called schipka, schip and cherry laurel, skip laurel’s foliage and appearance are very similar to bay laurel (Laurus nobilis). Botanical Name. Portugal Laurel has a dark green leaf that is much smaller than the leaf of Cherry Laurel. To control larger plants, cut stems and trunks by hand or chainsaw, cutting as close to the ground as possible, and remove stems to make it easier to control re-growth. They are technically in the Prunus genus and they are not “true” laurels at all! The plant grows to about 20 feet tall but is often pruned to a more manageable, shrub-like size and shape for specimen plants and hedges. New plantings are discouraged especially where it could impact forest lands. Laurel water, a distillation made from the plant, contains prussic acid (hydrogen cyanide) and other compounds and is toxic. It has a dense habit, spreading twice as high as it is high. English Laurel; Phonetic Spelling PROO-nus law-roh-ser-AY-sus This plant has high severity poison characteristics. There are five main options for controlling the re-growth after cutting: Dig out the stumps including as much root as possible. The Cherry laurel (Prunus laurocerasus), also called English laurel, grows naturally around the Black Sea, as well as in Turkey and in Iran. Housman’s poem, To an Athlete Dying Young: “And early though the laurel grows, It withers quicker than the rose.” Despite the brief flowering season, Prunus laurocerasus is not a shrub to underestimate. This should be done regularly throughout the growing season over several years until the plant stops sending up new shoots. These shrubs are related to peach, plum, and other stone fruits. English laurel's waxy, dark green foliage remains green all year long. Prunus laurocerasus is the original species of Common Laurel. Prunus laurocerasus. In the wild, laurelwood inhabits sandy beaches but can also grow in sandy soils inland. Related to cherry trees, English laurel gets its common name from its resemblance to the true laurel tree. For more information see No… For more information see Noxious weed lists and laws or visit the website of the Washington State Noxious Weed Control Board. The plants also have different characteristics and growth requirements. Its glossy, evergreen leaves are smaller than English laurel's. We are also gathering information on effective control methods. Small white flowers in the spring, followed by glossy red cherries that eventually turn black. Photograph by Sebastian Rittau via Flickr.. One thing to know about Prunus laurocerasus (which emits the pleasing fragrance of almonds when its leaves are crushed), is that it contains hydrogen cyanide, a poison.If ingested in large amounts, hydrogen cyanide can deplete the nervous system of oxygen and, in rare cases, even cause death. 1 Review Add Your Review. I am referring to Cherry Laurels (of which the Otto Luyken cultivar is heavily used) and Skip Laurels. In spring, it produces fragrant white racemes of flowers up to 4 inches long, followed by small, black berries. Monitor stems for re-growth and break off any new stems. Full to partial sun. The Centre Court Cherry Laurel is a selected, improved form of the Carolina cherry laurel, Prunus caroliniana. SKU. According to the USDA Plants Database distribution map, English laurel is reported as naturalized in Washington, British Columbia, Oregon, and California. Rich of a strong plum fragrance, a profusion of tiny, creamy-white flowers held in upright racemes, 5 in. A popular choice for clipped hedges, group plantings or screens. Although both are commonly called laurels, English laurel (Prunus laurocerasus) and laurelwood (Calophyllum inophyllum) have completely different botanical family trees. Become a certified small business contractor or supplier, Find certified small business contractors and suppliers, Washington State Noxious Weed Control Board, University of Washington Herbarium records, E-Flora BC - Electronic Atlas of the Plants of British Columbia, Invasive Species Ireland - Best Practices Management Guideline, Citywide Habitat Assessment, Interim Report, March 2006, Seattle Urban Nature Project, Evergreen leaves are dark green on top and pale underneath, thick, shiny, large (3 to 8 inches long), oblong, abruptly pointed at the tips, alternate on the stems, and have finely toothed edges and short leaf stalks, Small white flowers in upright clusters (racemes) resemble cherry flowers, cup-shaped with 5 petals and fragrant, many yellow stamens, Produces small, purplish-black, cone-shaped, cherry-type fruits, also in clusters, Poisonous parts include wilted leaves, stems, and seeds (may be fatal if eaten), Reproduces through seeds, which are distributed by birds and possibly other animals, Also spreads laterally by layering (growing roots from stems where they touch the ground), When cut, English laurel will sucker from the roots and re-sprout from cut stems, Grows in sun or shade, moist or dry soils, but does best in moist, well-drained soils. Dwarf English Laurels or Cherry Laurels (Prunus laurocerasus) can be great plants to use for foundation plantings and backdrops. Many of the newer varieties, in particular Rotundifolia are now much more widely grown for hedging as they are more upright and… This plant is commonly found in urban forests in King County, Washington and can also be found escaping into more remote areas, usually spread by yard waste dumping or by birds eating the plant's cherry-like fruits (which are not palatable to people, and can be poisonous). Tolerant of salt spray. Rating: 100 % of 100. How Do I Calculate Home Value to Loan Ratio? Rich of a strong plum fragrance, a profusion of tiny, creamy-white flowers held in upright racemes, 5 in. WaterWise. A smaller form of cherry laurel, tends to be wider than high; produces showy, fragrant, erect white spike flowers, black fruit and glossy dark-green leaves; makes a stunning hedge or accent plant, takes pruning very well. A handsome low hedge for filtered shade! This is the species of Common Laurel (aka Cherry Laurel, English Laurel) from which most of the other varieties have been developed. This plant is otherwise known as the cherry laurel, common laurel, or English laurel. Stems can be chipped and used as mulch or taken to a landfill. This may be why they are often called “Cherry laurels” –cherries and plums are also Prunus species. Different from the English laurel, (Prunus laurocerasus), often also called ‘cherry laurel’, both these plants are surprise relatives of cherry, peach, and apricot trees. Tiny flowers have sweet fragrance. There is another type of plant that is also referred to as “laurel.” This is Prunus laurocerasus of the family Rosaceae (rose family). The cherry laurels of the genus Prunus will be discussed in detail. Very hardy Cherry Laurel. Its average texture blends into the landscape, but can be balanced by one or two finer or coarser trees or shrubs for an effective composition. Laurelwood produces creamy white flowers from late spring through summer that are followed by marble-sized white berries. These shrubs are related to peach, plum, and other stone fruits. English laurel is often grown as a hedge, because it tolerates even severe pruning. Full to partial sun. White. Audrey Lynn has been a journalist and writer since 1974. Program offices are located at 201 S. Jackson St., Suite 600, Seattle, WA 98104. See below Description. It is a quick-growing, evergreen, wide-spreading shrub that can grow up to 18ft (6 metres) in height. Light Requirements. Tolerant of salt spray. Prunus laurocerasus. Skip laurel – Prunus laurocerasus ‘Schipkaensis’ – is a hardy, dense-growing evergreen shrub commonly used for hedges and as cut greenery in floral arrangements. Attracts Hummingbirds. Prunus laurocerasus (English Laurel) is a vigorous, broad, spreading evergreen shrub with dense, erect branches clothed in handsome, lustrous, dark green leaves (6 in. Full sun (6+ hours direct sun) Moisture Requirements. long (12 cm), are on display in mid-late summer. An evergreen species of cherry native to regions bordering the Black Sea in southwestern Asia and South Eastern Europe. New plantings are discouraged especially where it could impact forest lands. She edited a weekly home-and-garden tabloid for her hometown newspaper and has regularly contributed to weekly and daily newspapers, as well as "Law and Order" magazine. Applying mulch to the area will reduce seedling growth. Very fast-growing and tolerant of disturbance and a wide range of conditions, English laurel is a strong competitor and thrives in our climate. Because it is spread by birds to remote areas, it has the potential to be a serious threat to native forest land in the Puget Sound region. Here in Washington, English laurel is most common west of the Cascades. The species has also escaped into the wild in a few places in California. Impacts of English laurel include out-competing native forest species such as tree seedlings and native shrubs and replacing native canopy trees over time. The plant thrives in USDA zones 6 through 9. Cherry Laurels: A Field Guide. The leaves are oval or elliptical and somewhat thick and leathery. The Carolina Cherry Laurel is found growing wild in the south-east, from North Carolina to Florida, and into Texas. This cultivar is named for a location ("-ensis" is a suffix added to a place, meaning "from" that place), the Schipka pass in the mountains separating India from Nepal. It is not related to the true laurel, or Laurus nobilis. I am referring to Cherry Laurels (of which the Otto Luyken cultivar is heavily used) and Skip Laurels. 6705. English Laurel. Prunus laurocerasus (English Laurel) is a vigorous, broad, spreading evergreen shrub with dense, erect branches clothed in handsome, lustrous, dark green leaves (6 in. Prunus laurocerasus, also known as the English laurel in North America, is a small tree or shrub native to southeastern Europe and southwestern Asia. Portugal Laurel has a dark green leaf that is much smaller than the leaf of Cherry Laurel. See below Description. English laurel likes moist, well-drained and richly organic soil and grows best in full sun to partial shade. After cutting, plants are very likely to re-grow. English laurel is on the monitor list of the Washington State Noxious Weed List. Cherry laurels bloom in spring and an easy way to remember the habits of this evergreen flowering shrub is to memorize the line from A.E. As it is a fast-growing shrub, English cherry laurel makes an excellent choice for a taller privacy hedge or border. Variations on the cut stump method that also work are frilling (chipping notches around the trunk and applying herbicide to the fresh cuts) or injecting herbicide into the trunk (this may require special injection tools). SKU. Because English laurel is already naturalized in many places in King County and is not on the State Noxious Weed List, we are not tracking locations. Russian Laurel: Skip: Cherry Laurel: English Laurel: Common Laurel: General Plant Information ; Plant Habit: Shrub Tree: Sun Requirements: Full Sun to Partial Shade: Water Preferences: Mesic: Soil pH Preferences: Moderately acid (5.6 – 6.0) Slightly acid (6.1 – 6.5) Minimum cold hardiness: © Copyright 2020 Hearst Communications, Inc. Herbicides may not be allowable in all locations, so contact your local jurisdiction about permitting requirements or restrictions. Laurel or sweet bay (Laurus nobilis) and mountain laurel (Kalmia latifolia) are briefly mentioned. Housman’s poem, To an Athlete Dying Young: “And early though the laurel grows, It withers quicker than the rose.” Despite the brief flowering season, Prunus laurocerasus is not a shrub to underestimate. It requires full sun and grows best in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 10 through 11. Wood. Large evergreen shrub has dense, erect branches and rich green leaves. Glendurgan’s maze at Glendurgan National Trust Garden in Cornwall is made completely from Cherry Laurel. Evergreen. English, or cherry, laurel is a member of the rose family (Rosaceae), while laurelwood, or Alexandrian laurel, is a member of the Guttiferae family. Schipka Cherry Laurel. Laurel Hedges are a unique group of plants, and they are particularly well-suited to hedging. English laurel is often found with a mix of native and non-native species. long or 15 cm). long or 15 cm). In King County, English laurel is most commonly found invading urban parks and forests, especially in the Seattle area, but escaped populations can be found throughout the county. The contrasting stem and leaf colour of Portuguese Laurel creates an impressive visual effect and its ability to thrive in difficult conditions makes it a preferred alternative than the popular Cherry Laurel. Collected plants have varied from immature plants to flowering or fruiting trees. Cherry Laurel or English Laurel (Prunus laurocerasus) Mature Height/Spread: This evergreen, broadleaf shrub can grow to 20 feet but is generally kept smaller in the home landscape. Be the first to review this product. Spray re-growth and seedlings with triclopyr or glyphosate diluted according to the product label for controlling brush. Glossy foliage on a dense, vase-shaped form displaying a layered effect. Prunus laurocerasus 'Schipkaensis' SKU. See more. Immediately after cutting, treat stump by painting or spraying with glyphosate or triclopyr. They are easy to spot with their thick, shiny leaves pointed at the tips. Most King County offices will be closed on January 1, for New Year's Day. English Laurel Hedge With rich evergreen foliage throughout the year and dense branches, English laurel or Prunus Laurocerasus is a popular hedge for those wanting a lush evergreen privacy screen. The stems of Portugal Laurel are red when young and this contrasts well with the dark green leaves. Attracts Butterflies. This plant blooms in the spring. Tiny flowers have sweet fragrance. It is medium-fast growing although not quite as quick growing as Cherry Laurel. English Laurel. Also known as Common Laurel and English Laurel. Mature laurel trees have deep and extensive roots so digging is labor-intensive and may result in considerable soil disturbance. Prunus Laurocerasus Rotundifolia is known by a number of different names which include: Cherry Laurel, Common Laurel, English Laurel, European Cherry Laurel, Laurier-armande, Cherry-bay and Versailles Laurel. Prunus caroliniana, known as the Carolina laurelcherry, Carolina cherry laurel, cherry laurel, or Carolina cherry, is a small evergreen flowering tree native to the lowlands of Southeastern United States, from North Carolina south to Florida and westward to central Texas. English Laurel; Phonetic Spelling PROO-nus law-roh-ser-AY-sus This plant has high severity poison characteristics. Although it is legal to sell and grow it in Washington, English laurel is classified as a Weed of Concern in King County and its control is recommended in natural areas that are being restored to native vegetation and in protected forest lands. It tends to split and distort while drying. A popular choice for clipped hedges, group plantings or screens. Cherry Laurel (Prunus laurocerasus) Also known as the English Laurel, this is a hardy laurel that is very popular in the southern part of the United States. It grows 8 to 10 feet tall. It has large, thick glossy leaves that are evergreen, so it … Some older plants won't re-sprout very much, but left alone, all English laurel will re-grow to some extent. Cherry Laurel or English Laurel (Prunus laurocerasus) Mature Height/Spread: This evergreen, broadleaf shrub can grow to 20 feet but is generally kept smaller in the home landscape. Cherry laurels bloom in spring and an easy way to remember the habits of this evergreen flowering shrub is to memorize the line from A.E. A smaller form of cherry laurel, tends to be wider than high; produces showy, fragrant, erect white spike flowers, black fruit and glossy dark-green leaves; makes a stunning hedge or accent plant, takes pruning very well. Laurels May Be Hardy, But Beware of Problems By Gil Medeiros, former Fairfax Master Gardener Laurels have become very popular landscape plants in Northern Virginia. Prunus laurocerasus. The plants barely reach heights of more than 18 metres (59 feet), and they bear simple glossy leaves that are arranged alternately along the stem. Large evergreen shrub has dense, erect branches and rich green leaves. Cherry Laurel is an evergreen shrub or small tree that grows up to 20' tall and is dense and wide-spreading. Leaves are from 2 to 6 inches long and half as wide, and have tiny serrations on the margins. A Hambidge Fellow, Lynn studied English at Columbus State University. It is important to stress that English laurel is produced and sold in Washington and Oregon and there are no regulations or limits on its sale or use in landscaping. 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