Laurel Trees (Prunus)


Another great screening tree, you can buy our Laurel trees online or direct from our tree nursery. Choose from  Prunus laurocerasus (Cherry Laurel) and Prunus lusitanica (Portuguese Laurel).

Laurel has become a very valuable plant in the hedgerows of the UK, and is favoured as a reliable, evergreen plant that is more inkeeping with many environments than certain conifers. Sometimes known as “Cherry Laurel”, Prunus Laurocerasus has many cultivars.

It will grow to around 6 or 7 metres tall, and will continue to spread unless regular formative pruning during the summer is performed. The particular cultivar that King and Co favour is Prunus Laurocerasus ‘Novita’, novita has proved to be much hardier than its parent. Furthermore, it is not susceptible to mildew or “shot hole” disease, which can stunt growth. Novita is also slightly more compact and has a darker leaf. Planted at one metre spacings at a single row of laurels, it will make a superb evergreen screen.

Also worthy of mention is Prunus Lusitanica or more commonly known as “Portuguese laurel”. Lusitanica is a much tighter form of laurel with a much smaller bluey green leaf. Although it has the disadvantage of growing at a slower rate than Cherry Laurel, it remains a very popular plant. When regularly trimmed, Lusitanica will develop into the most magnificent evergreen hedge, various sizes up to 2 metres tall are available here at the nursery.

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