The cherry laurel, whose scientific name is Prunus laurocerassus, is a plant that can be had both as an isolated tree or as a hedge, since supports pruning very well. It has small but very pretty flowers, white in color, which sprout in spring.
It grows very fast, being one of the most demanded species to have in the gardens, since in addition, resists cold and frosts. It's interesting, right?
Characteristics of the Prunus laurocerassus
This is an evergreen plant native to Asia and Europe that belongs to the Rosaceae family. Its leaves are long, up to 20cm, oblong and leathery, dark green on the upper side and lighter on the underside. The flowers appear grouped in inflorescences and are small, white in color. The fruit is a drupe up to 1cm in diameter, black when ripe. They look a lot like cherries, although the fruits of our protagonist they taste harsh.
It is widely used as hedges in a wide variety of climates, as supports up to -15ºC, but it is also excellent as a shade tree, as it can reach 10m in height if allowed to grow freely.
Cherry laurel care
El Prunus laurocerassus It is a plant that is very easy to grow, so much so that you just have to take the following into account:
- Location: it is advisable to place it in a semi-shady area.
- Irrigation: up to 3 times a week in summer, and every 5 days the rest of the year.
- Land: it is not demanding, but it grows better in those that have good drainage.
- Pruning: with scissors, all branches are trimmed in autumn or early spring.
- Plagues and diseases: It is very resistant, but it is worth doing a treatment with Neem oil in summer to avoid mealybugs and aphids.
Do you have any cherry laurel in your garden?