The Cherry Laurel are easy to plant, easy to maintain, highly tolerant and have wildlife interest. The flowers are pollinated by bees which visit the small white flowers in early spring, and the fruits are popular with birds.
Cherry Laurel is a genus of evergreen shrubs or small trees in the rose family, Rosaceae, native to Europe, Africa and Asia. The genus Prunus also contains the cherry trees and almonds. Many members of the genus Prunus are widely cultivated for their ornamental effects. Cherry Laurel is fast growing and can easily become too big for its allotted space if not pruned regularly.
There are three species of Laurel:
Prunus Laurocerasus Rotundifolia, this laurel has a bushy growth habit boasting large, attractive polisched green leaves throughout the year. In the spring it will produce white flowers that attract bees, followed by small red fruits that turn black in autumn and are fed on by birds.
Prunus Laurocerasus Novita, this laurel is known for being hardier than the common laurel. It is a fast growing evergreen plant that has glossy leaves and produces white flowers in the spring followed by small black berries that are not edible.
Prunus Laurocerasus Caucasica, also a fast growing evergreen plant with a more distinct upright habit. This plant is perfect for any gardener who has little space or wants to grow a narrow hedge. It is a tough hedge which grows easily in free-draining soil. This hedge plant is not suitable to be planted in coastal regions.
Growing a laurel hedge is easy, but you will have to provide it with favorable planting conditions to get a compact hedge is no time.