Prunus laurocerasus 'NOVITA' cherry laurel, common laurel, English laurel

Novita is a new sensation among cherry laurels. Eventually there is a hardy variety which has benefits of the formerly more tender ones: it grows fast and big, has large leaves of a nice colour, and is surprisingly hardy for a large-leaved cherry laurel. It is a selection of Rotundifolia variety hence the resemblance. The leaves are 10-15 cm long, obovate, very glossy, soft green when young turning to deep green. It is a perfect specimen or a superb hedging plant. It seldom flowers when young. Older and well-established plants, however, flower profusely if unpruned and make large black berries. There have been tests carried out (source: Plants For A Future) that proved that only leaves and seeds from unripe fruit can be dangerous, and that dark-coloured and ripe fruit in limited quantity is harmless even for children.

Novita is available commonly as a shrub as well as with a trunk so you can enjoy a truly evergreen tree. It grows fast and can be pruned in April or in mid July. Laurels need deep and fertile, acid, moist but well-drained soil, and extra watering in frost-free periods of 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 where it partly loses its shape. 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 increase soil acidity which will help the plant absorb iron from the ground. It is very hardy to about -24°C and has withstood a few spells of -27°C (USDA zone 5b).

Last update 20-01-2009; 31-07-2011,11-01-2012; 14-06-2012