Prunus Laurocerasus Cherry Laurel B&B – The Ornamental Shrub



Posted: Thursday, November 26, 2009

by Dennis Sons
tn nursery

Prunus Laurocerasus, Cherry Laurel or English Laurel hail from the prunes family. It is a small evergreen shrub, and a nursery favorite that grows from 5 to 15m in height, and sometimes up to 18m, though that is rare. The trunk can measure up to 60cms in breadth. The leaves of this shrub are leathery, dark green, shiny and are 10 to 25cms in width, 4 to 10cms in breadth with a margin that is finely serrated. They are oblong, oval, finely toothed, acute and smooth with nerves that are oblique and glades that are yellowish at the base. In early spring, the flower buds make an appearance to open completely in early summer. Each of these flowers are 1cm broad, attached with 5 creamy white petals and numerous stamens that are yellow in color, having a strong odor. Any nursery that sells landscaping and ornamental seedlings will be able to deliver this plant.

The fruit of this shrub is 1 to 2 cm broad small cherry, which in early autumn turns black with a structure and shape that resembles the black cherry. The foliage that appears on the true laurel refers to the similarity of the Cherry Laurel, but both the plants belong to different families and should not be confused. The shrub is famous for its ornamental purpose. After acquiring from the nursery , they are used mostly for landscaping, screening and as a ground cover plant. The shrub is known to cope with difficult growing conditions and responds well to pruning. Greenery in floristry (floral trade encompassing handling and care of flowers) is cut with the help of this tree's foliage. All parts of the plant are poisonous except the cherries, which are related to true cherries, apricots, peaches and plums, but are dry smack and somewhat bland compared to its relatives. The seed in the cherry contains amygdalin and cyanogenic glycosides, which is poisonous and therefore should be removed from the cherry before consumption. Prunus Laurocerasus grows rapidly, has a resistance to shade and drought, often kills and competes with native plant species. Birds spread this plant through the seeds in their droppings.

All parts of the tree and the leaves, when bruised, have a hydrocyanic acid smell. The plant is deer resistant. Its soil should not be allowed to dry between watering during its growing season. Sow the healthy seed of this plant from a nursery directly after the frost. If the seeds are to be stored, the fleshy coating needs to be removed, before they are stored. The leaves of this shrub are used for curing whooping cough, indigestion, cough, dyspepsia and asthma. The cold infusion of the leaf is externally used to wash the eyes during eye infections. Prunus Laurocerasus makes an excellent hedge in sunny or shady areas. The plant attracts birds and butterflies but must be protected from bacterial canker, which kills large branches. It should be trimmed in the spring or in late summer
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