Prunus laurocerasus 'HERBERGII' Cherry laurel, common laurel, English laurel

Herbergii is another cherry laurel favourite. It is a dense shrub with elongated, deep green, and glossy leaves. It grows medium fast and unlike another hedging variety Caucasica this one forms a compact pyramidal shape with plenty of bottom branches from young age. This makes it an ideal evergreen specimen in the centre of your border.

Compound flowers are white, fragrant and appear in April and May, followed by black berries, and tests proved that they are not poisonous, only seeds from unripe fruit can cause stomach discomfort if eaten in quantity. Though, they are loved by birds. Herbergii does not need pruning. If you grow it as a hedge, trim it in mid spring or by end July.

Laurels need slightly deep and fertile, acidic, moist soil, and extra watering in frost-free periods in winter to prevent from drying out before the ground gets frozen. It will thrive in full sun or part shade, and will also tolerate being grown in full shade. It seldom suffers from chlorosis (leaves turning yellow owing to lack of iron in the soil) but when it does use a special liquid soil pH balancer to keep it acidic which will help the plant absorb iron. Fully hardy to -27°C (USDA zone 5b).

Last update 23-12-2008; 19-01-2013