- Hardy cherry laurel varieties
- Cherry laurel varieties for hedges
- Fast growing cherry laurel varieties
- Particularly pretty and small cherry laurel varieties
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Cherry laurels are evergreen, hardy and vigorous and particularly suitable as a hedge. But the varieties sometimes differ significantly.
There are over 25 different varieties of cherry laurel (Prunus laurocerasus). These differ not only in their appearance. Their demands on the environment and care also vary greatly. Before choosing a variety, you should think about where the plant will live later, what soil conditions prevail at the location and how much space is available.
But you should also consider your own wishes when choosing a variety. Do you want a particularly hardy variety? Do you want to plant a hedge? Should it grow quickly or should it be cut less intensively? We will help you with a small variety overview in deciding on the right cherry laurel variety. About 20 different varieties have been introduced into Germany, while the wild form of the laurel cherry is rarely cultivated here.
Hardy cherry laurel varieties
Varities with a high level of winter hardiness can also cope with icy winters without additional winter protection. With these varieties you don't need to worry at the beginning of spring whether there is still anything left of your plant, because winter damage is limited here with the right care.
- Etna: What is special about this variety is the unusual color of the young leaves. It is two meters wide and high and has an average growth of about 30 cm per year. The bronze-colored or bronze-red shoots have broad and thick leaves. In addition, the variety tolerates pruning well and is also suitable for small gardens. You can find more details about the cherry laurel variety 'Etna' in our special article.
- Upright laurel cherry 'Herbergii': This particularly slender variety with a strong, oval habit reaches heights of 3.5 m. The plants grow by a good 30 cm andhave thick leaves that are relatively small compared to other varieties. This hardy variety is the most common in the garden. She also has a high tolerance to shotgun disease. You can read more details about the cherry laurel variety 'Herbergii' here.
- Dwarf Cherry Laurel 'Piri': With a final height of just one meter and a width of 1.2 m, this very hardy variety is suitable for low hedges and topiary or for planting in front gardens or in cemeteries. With its compact growth, robustness, high site tolerance and he alth, this cherry laurel offers a good alternative to the disease-prone box tree.
- Kleopatra: This particularly hardy and robust variety scores with a beautiful copper-red leaf color on new shoots. It grows up to 1.25 m wide and 2 m high.
- Brenella: This Asian variety reaches a height of about 2 m and a width of 1.2 m in lime-poor, well-drained soil. Thanks to its good frost hardiness, it also tolerates temperatures below -35° C easily. The elongated, ovate foliage shines in a strong dark green.
- Winterstar: The name alone reveals the advantages of this variety: This cherry laurel survives the winter well even with long periods of frost well below zero and strong sunlight. It grows to a height of 2 m and a width of 1.8 m. This robust shrub is therefore also ideal as a hedge plant. The foliage is glossy dark green and light green underneath.
- Portuguese cherry laurel (Prunus lusitanica): This variety has a slender, medium-strong habit with elongated, small leaves. It grows dense and compact to a height of up to 6 m and is therefore ideal as a hedge plant. In addition, it is very similar to the real laurel. The winter hardiness should be that of P. surpass laurocerasus.
- Myrtifolia: This variety features glossy green foliage. It is best to choose a sunny location with heavy soil. In addition, the variety is hardy to temperatures below -35 °C, grows to a width of 2 m and a height of 2.5 m and is suitable as a hedge, specimen plant and container plant
- Angustifolia: Despite its Mediterranean origin, this variety has good winter hardiness. It has particularly graceful, narrow, shiny dark green leaves that grow very densely. In addition, it isa very pruning-tolerant and robust variety. The cherry laurel is ideal for hedges up to 4 m high.
- Angustifolia à Italia: This variety has elongated, ovate leaves in leathery, shiny green and a well-branched, upright habit up to 4 m high and 1.5 m wide. It should be better protected from the winter sun, but is otherwise hardy to -35° C and well suited as a hedge plant
Cherry laurel varieties for hedges
Cherry laurels are popular hedge plants because of their evergreen leaves and rapid growth. But the same applies here: some varieties are better suited as a hedge than others. Below are some varieties that are well suited for cherry laurel hedges. You can find more information on this in our special article.
- Cherry laurel 'Genolia': This hardy variety is the ideal hedge variety due to its very upright and slender growth (1 m wide). It grows only weakly and therefore does not need to be cut back too often. The plants grow up to 3.5 m tall and have dark green, leathery and narrow leaves. You can find more details about the cherry laurel variety 'Genolia' here.
- Leander: This medium-growing variety is considered the typical hedge laurel. It is very hardy and has a very broad and bushy growth when not pruned.
- Prudonti: The variety quickly reaches heights of 3 m with a width of only about 1 m and is therefore wonderfully suited for hedge planting as privacy and wind protection, even in smaller gardens. The oblong foliage is glossy mid-green.
- Reynvaanii: This beautifully upright and adaptable hedge variety can also cope with suboptimal site conditions in the shade. The long, narrow foliage is a glossy dark green. It can grow up to 3 m high and 2 m wide and is very hardy.
- Renault Ace: This variety quickly grows into a compact, opaque hedge up to 3m high and 2.5m wide. Due to its shade tolerance and high resistance to root pressure, it also thrives excellently under large trees. The elliptical leaves shine in a rich dark green.
- Linus: The very upright, densely branched growth makes this cherry laurel an ideal choice for free-standing hedges. Because if there is enough free space, the shrub, which is just 1.2 m wide and 3.5 m high, does not have to be cutwill. Furthermore, the variety convinces with good vigor and frost hardiness.
- Zabeliana: This variety is suitable for wide hedges and is characterized by its good pruning tolerance, wind resistance and winter hardiness. Due to these properties, this cherry laurel can also be used wonderfully for planting, because its width is up to 5 m.
- Wide-growing laurel cherry 'Otto Luyken': This very frost-hardy variety convinces with a low (1.5 m high), broad, bushy and dense growth. It is therefore ideal when planted in groups as a ground cover or low hedge. It also has relatively small, narrow leaves and only grows weakly at 20 cm per year.
- Mano: The growth habit of this variety scores with a growth that is as wide as it is tall of approx. 1.5 m. This makes it - in combination with its good cut resistance - wonderful design.
- Greentorch: This variety reaches a height of about 2.5 m and a width of 1.4 m. It grows quite slowly for a cherry laurel, but still tolerates pruning very well . The oval leaves are glossy dark green.
- Greenpeace: The easy-care variety is wonderfully hardy and grows at a moderate pace into a hedge up to 4 m high and 1.8 m wide. The elliptical leaves are serrated on the edge and are an invigorating rich green.
- Mari: This is an ideal hedge variety with dense branches for the hobby gardener who is lazy to cut, because the variety does not have to be cut at a height of 1 to 2 m.
Fast growing cherry laurel varieties
Fast-growing varieties gain up to 70 cm in height per year and grow up to five meters in total. While they quickly serve as a good privacy screen and make excellent specimen plants, the plants need to be cut back very often to stay in shape.
- Narrow-leaved cherry laurel 'Caucasica': This growth miracle has slender, pointed leaves and is relatively sensitive to frost. However, after a hard winter, the plants will sprout again. The variety is suitable as a solitary plant, but also excellent for planting in hedges. It also convinces with a high resistance to common diseases. Find out more about the 'Caucasica' cherry laurel variety in our special article.
- Large-leaved cherry laurel 'Rotundifolia': This thick-leaved variety has a medium frost sensitivity and should only be planted in sheltered places. However, it drives out again every year. The relatively light leaves are large and wide.
- Dark-leaved cherry laurel 'Schipkaensis Macrophylla': This variety has the largest foliage leaves in deep dark green. Not only is it particularly fast-growing, it is also very hardy and resistant to diseases. In addition, it grows up to 3 m high and 3 m wide.
- Diana: This variety has a strong, funnel-shaped habit with ovate, pointed leaves. The shoot is slightly copper-colored. The variety is also very hardy (even below -35 °C) and is suitable for single, group or hedge planting. The growth reaches heights of up to 3 m and widths of about 2 m.
- Hibani: This is a uniquely beautiful new breed with strong, tall and wide growth and narrow, pointed leaves. The shoot is slightly copper-colored. It grows up to 3 m high and 1.5 m wide.
- Novita: This variety has the same characteristics as 'Rotundifolia', only its leaf color is slightly darker. You can find out more in our specially compiled article on the 'Novita' cherry laurel.
By the way: Most large-leaved varieties are fast-growing.
Particularly pretty and small cherry laurel varieties
With such a large selection of varieties, some real eye-catchers and special features can also be discovered among the cherry laurel varieties. There are varieties that score with their unusual growth habit or aesthetics.
- Creeping Cherry Laurel 'Mount Vernon': This variety has a creeping, spreading habit of 35 cm in height and up to 120 cm in width. It is therefore ideal as a ground cover. The dark green leaves are oblong. This variety is sufficiently hardy down to -35 °C and also thrives in very shady places with a lot of root competition.
- Wide-growing cherry laurel 'Cherry Brandy': With a height of only 80 cm and a width of up to 3 m, the variety is ideal for planting in large areas. It is extremely frost and drought resistant and tolerates pruning without any problems. The elliptical, oblong leaves are glossy medium to dark green.
- Gajo: The small one, slowlygrowing variety is just 1 m high and is therefore ideal for edging paths or beds and for growing in containers. The elliptical leaves are shiny dark green.
- Mischeana: This variety grows to 1.5 m in height and 2.5 m in spread. It is hardy, convinces with dark green foliage, a high site tolerance and will bloom again in September.
- Marbled White: The leaves of this variety are conspicuously marbled white. It grows quite slowly, branched and dense. It reaches a height of 2.5 m and a width of about 2 m.
- Ani: The leaves of this variety are bright red and turn green over time, making it a particularly attractive variety. With a final height of only 1.5 m, it is suitable for medium-high hedges as well as a solitary or container plant.
- Prunus lusitanica 'Tico': The special thing about this variety is its bronze-colored flowers. In addition, it scores with a very good winter hardiness, cut tolerance and a growth height of around 2.5 m.
As you can see, there are many different types of cherry laurel. All information on the cultivation and care of cherry laurel can be found in our special article.