Prunus laurocerasus 'Zsófi' SOFIA cherry laurel, common laurel, English laurel
size/type
medium-sized shrub,small shrub
usual height
0,5-1,5m
usual width
0,5-1,5m
leaves
evergreen broadleaf
colour of leaves
flowers
insignificant or non-blooming
location
full sun to shade
soil type
acidic (peaty)
soil moisture requirements
evenly moist but well-drained
USDA zone (lowest)
5b (down to -27°C)
winter protection
for zone 5+6
for zone 7
categorized
We are specialists in evergreen plants and we offer the widest possible range of quality plants hardy in Central Europe. English (cherry) laurel is probably the most common and reliable species. SOFIA is a Hungarian variety from 2020 and an attractive addition to the family of new and hardy varieties from Hungarian breeders. It was granted an EU patent 53851 in 2020, and a year before it won Gold Medal at a prestigious fair of novelties Plantarium 2019.
Description of the plant:
SOFIA is a dwarf cherry laurel that can easily be mistaken for a holy because of its distinctly serrated (not spiny) leaves. Hoar frost makes a picturesque sight in autumn and winter and you will want to make a photo of them every time you pass them by. They are evergreen, leathery, narrowly lance-shaped, dark green, and glossy. The plant is compact, slow growing (5-15 cm per year), densely branched, and reaches about 1.5 m in height and width in maturity. Flowers have not been observed so far. Pruning is possible in mid spring before new leaves emerge or in mid summer. Laurels need slightly deep and fertile, acidic, moist soil, and extra watering in frost-free periods in 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. 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 keep it acidic which will help the plant absorb iron. The breeder confirms hardiness to at least -25 °C (USDA zone 5b) without any injury, however, the plant has not been tested in harsher condition yet and may take a few degrees lower.
Last update 09-09-2021
SIZES and PRICES
height 25-30 cm
399 Kè
height 40-50 cm, width 40-50 cm
4 680 Kè
height 30-40 cm, width 30-40 cm
1 820 Kè
height 30-40 cm, width 30-40 cm
1 820 Kè
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GLOSSARY
- STANDARD QUALITY - Plants of this group are 1st class quality with number of branches and overall density adequate to their size and age, considering they were container grown.
- DE LUXE QUALITY - This label guarantees a luxurious quality of manually selected plants that, compared to their height and age, are exceptionally dense and beautiful.
- EXTRA - These plants are usually mature and bigger specimens with exceptional overall appearance.
- STANDARD (as described in the plant form) means a tree with a trunk of 190-210 cm and a crown at the top, unless specified differently. The commercial size for trees is their girth measured in the height of 1m from ground.
- HOBBY - These plants are of the same quality as our standard-quality plants but younger and therefore cheaper.
- SHRUB - a woody plant with branches growing bushy from the ground level.
- HALF-STANDARD or MINI-STANDARD - a small tree with shorter trunk, its size is usually specified.
- FEATHERED - These are trees with branches growing already from the base of the trunk and up along the stem.
- GRASSES and PERENNIALS - Sizes given usually read the diameter of the pot or the clump, as specified.
