Prunus laurocerasus 'Mariblon' GENOLIA® cherry laurel

GENOLIA® is an excellent addition to the family of hedging cherry laurels. It comes from Switzerland, and was bred by Pepiniéres de Genolier in 2002. It forms a handsome, columnar, evergreen shrub which requires no pruning to look recent great. Leathery leaves are mid to dark green, narrowly ovate, and glossy. Its naturally upright habit makes it ideal for a hedge, however, it can serve as a slender, free-standing, evergreen specimen in small gardens. It was awarded silver medal at Plantarium 2005, a leading European trade fair of novelties.

Cherry laurels have compound inflorescence made out of small, white, fragrant flowers that appear in April and May. They are followed by very ornamental fruits which, as recent studies confirmed, are not poisonous. Only seeds from unripe fruit if properly chewed may cause discomfort as they contain the same toxin like bitter almonds (source: Plants For A Future - www.pfaf.org). If you want to prune it, do so in mid spring before new leaves emerge or in mid summer.

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 at least -23°C (USDA zone 6), possibly more.

Last update 29-10-2018