Prunus laurocerasus Caucasica

Commonly grown as a bush for hedging, Prunus laurocerasus Caucasica, also known as Cherry Laurel, is available here at Barcham as a standard specimen. 

Prunus laurocerasus Caucasica is a very tough version of Cherry Laurel that has darker leaves than its cousin Rotundifolia and is considered by many as hardier.

This specimen starts life as a fairly upright little shrub, but don’t be fooled as at maturity it can spread as wide as it is tall. It needs full or partial sun to thrive and well-draining soil.

At Barcham, we grow these trees as standards with a 1.8-2.0m clear stem, making them ideal for stilted hedging. The clear stem means that the foliage sits perfectly above most fences to form a higher-level screen.

These standard trees can be planted at anywhere from 1-2m centres, depending on how instant you would like the screening coverage. The planting distance is essentially a balance between how much you are looking to spend on the project and the required instant impact of the screen.

The Cherry Laurel features large, dark, ovate, glossy green leaves, providing the specimen with a dense, opaque screen. Similar to other varieties of Cherry Laurels, Prunus laurocerasus Caucasica can withstand pruning, often employed to maintain its foliage's fullness and shape.

Care should be exercised regarding the timing of pruning. Pruning too early or late in the season can lead to the production of new foliage that takes time to harden against frost. It's advisable to prune after the last frost in spring and no later than the end of July.

Mature Height: 3-5m