Prunus laurocerasus 'OTTO LUYKEN' Cherry laurel, English laurel - STANDARD TREE

Otto Luyken is one of the best known as well the most reliable and the hardiest selection among cherry laurels. Its evergreen pointed leaves are glossy and dark green. In April and May appears a profusion of erect racemes compound of small, creamy white, fragrant flowers followed by blue-black fruit. 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. It often re-blooms in late summer and autumn.

It forms small, healthy shrubs, which predominantly spread to sides. As it reaches no more than about 1.5m in many years, it is often grafted onto half-standard or high standard stems in order to establish a compact tree form. Use it as a small specimen tree anywhere in the garden or combine it well with dwarf conifers or other evergreen shrubs of different colours.

It 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 -29°C (USDA zone 5).

Last update 26-02-2020