Discover Cherry Laurel Tree Facts On The Evergreen Flowering Tree

The cherry laurel tree is native of North America and is a pretty easily grown tree with glossy, dark green, evergreen leaves.

The cherry laurel (Prunus caroliniana) can reach a height of up to 40 ft (12.1 m) and spread across a 25 ft (7.6 m) area. However, the tree when grown in the open is often seen as shorter in height.

Known by many names like cherry laurel, laurel cherry, Carolina cherry laurel, mock orange, Carolina cherry, and wild peach, the tree is endemic to the southeastern United States. The tree is fairly small and has oval or lance-shaped leaves. Small white flowers are seen in an elongated cluster and produce tiny black drupes. The Carolina laurel cherry grows into an upright-oval, dense form and with regular pruning, the tree will form a dense screen or hedge. This plant is perfect as a small to medium-sized street tree.

The spring season sees small, creamy white showy flowers appear in fragrant clusters of this tree and then these flowers turn into tiny, shiny, black cherries. The flowers of this tree attract a lot of bees and the cherries are loved by wildlife too. The tree is quite easy to manage and is perfect for low-maintenance gardens.

Cherry Laurel Tree Classification

This is a small tree with evergreen flowers native to the lowlands of southeastern United States.

The Carolina laurel cherry (Prunus caroliniana) is quite similar to the other Prunus species, also called cherry laurel (Prunus laurocerasus). This latter species is known by the name of English laurel in the United States. Prunus caroliniana falls in the kingdom Plantae, order Rosales, family Rosaceae (rose family of flowering plants), and genus Prunus.

The camphor laurel belongs to the order Laurales and the family Lauraceae. Its leaves smell of camphor when crushed.

Cherry laurels are also named for their similarities with the Laurus nobilis (true laurel) or bay laurel in the family Lauraceae. This tree is totally unrelated to the Carolina laurel.

Features Of Cherry Laurel Tree

This tree is a small or medium-sized evergreen tree that does not grow more than 40 ft (12.1 m) in height.

The height of the Carolina laurel ranges between 16-40 ft (5-12.1 m) and the tree spreads across 20-30 ft (6-9.1 m). The leaves of the tree are colored dark green and have the pattern of alternate, shiny, and leathery. The leaves grow as big as 2-4.5 in (5-11.4 cm). The leaves usually have a smooth margin, but sometimes subtle serrations are seen. Mature ones have an entire margin, while immature ones have serrations. The twigs of the tree are colored red to grayish brown and are slender in size. There is one trunk and branches do not droop. The color of the bark is reddish-brown. This bark coloration is smooth and peppered with lenticels when immature, but the color darkens to almost black or grayish. It fissures with age.

You will notice fragrant white to cream-colored flowers blooming in late winter and early spring. The fruits look like small black cherries which are seen throughout winter and are mostly eaten by birds. The branches and the leaves of the tree contain a high amount of cyanogenic glycosides, which break down to hydrogen cyanide if damaged. This makes it very dangerous to livestock. This is why Carolina laurel is considered deer-resistant. The leaves and green twigs of the tree emit an almond flavoring smell when crushed.

Now the English laurel (Prunus laurocerasus) is an evergreen shrub and is sized similar to the former one. English laurels have dark green leaves which are leathery and shiny and have a finely serrated margin. The leaves also emit the smell of almonds when crushed. It is an ornamental plant used for gardens and parks in temperate areas all over the world.

How To Plant Cherry Laurel Tree

It is quite a low-maintenance tree and easy to plant.

This tree can be planted from the months of October to March. It is recommended to let the root develop before winter, so plant these trees in the fall season. Cherry laurels are able to tolerate part sun and prefer sunny spots. Make a hole of around 20 in (51 cm) deep and use moist soil for the tree. Make sure while planting the tree that the base of the trunk is higher than the ground cover. Fill the holes with a mix of well-drained soil and soil mix. Water the area and press down slowly and lightly. The tree native to the southeastern US does not need much sun. Rapid growth is seen in this tree, so you can perfectly use it as a hedge.

The flowers of the tree attract bees and many other insects. However, the seeds, leaves, and twigs of all the species of the genus have hydrocyanic acid and should not be eaten. The seeds and tissues are very harmful to animal and bird species alike. The fresh leaves of the plant have a cherry fragrance of maraschino when crushed.

How To Take Care Of Cherry Laurel Tree

Here are some facts about caring for the plant.

Prune away the lower branches of the plant when the shrubs grow taller to keep the area clean and beautiful. The tree elevates the area wherever planted.

Remember to keep the plant away from high temperatures or dry locations.

Cherry laurel is vulnerable to verticillium wilt and powdery mildew. Prevent the latter by using Bordeaux mixture.

In the summer months, water the plants every two days if the soil seems very dry and/or sandy.

If you plan to use the plant as a hedge, prune it two times a year, preferably in early spring and in early autumn. It will help to keep the spreading of the tree horizontally in control.

You will see cherry laurels move well into forests, parks, everywhere and take over all the space. The invasive growth of the English laurel (common laurel) is seen in southwest Asia, southeastern Europe, and the Pacific Northwest.