Prunus laurocerasus Etna- Cherry Laurel

The Prunus laurocerasus 'Etna' is a new variety of Cherry Laurel, interesting for its small size, requiring little pruning, and for its young leaves, beautifully copper-coloured, which bring a touch of the unusual. Whether pruned or not, this very bushy Caucasian laurel is perfect for creating screens with strong privacy and windbreaking power, even in a small-sized garden. Like other taller varieties, it is hardy, fast-growing, and easy to cultivate. In spring, if not pruned, it is adorned with airy panicles of creamy-white, slightly fragrant flowers that are not without charm.

Native to southeastern Europe and Asia Minor, indigenous to Iran, the Caucasus, and Turkey, the Cherry Laurel, sometimes called Trebizond laurel, almond laurel, or palm laurel, is an evergreen shrub of the Rosaceae family. The cultivar 'Etna' was selected in France by the nurseryman André Briant. The habit of this shrub is upright and bushy, rounded, and well-branched at the base. At maturity, 10 years, it will reach approximately 2m (6.6ft) in height and 1.50m (3.3ft) in width, if not pruned. Its evergreen foliage is composed of large leathery leaves, wider than usual for this type, measuring 10 to 15cm (5.9in) long and 7cm (2.8in) wide, with a glossy green colour, more or less intense depending on the nature of the soil. In chalky soil, it will tend towards light green, in acidic soil, towards dark green. The lamina is shiny on the upper side, lighter and matte on the underside, and very decorative. The young leaves are copper orange in spring, contrasting beautifully with the mature leaves. In April-May, upright clusters of 10 to 12cm tiny, creamy-white, fragrant flowers appear at the tips of the shoots, loved by bees. In summer this is followed by small ovoid fruits, initially green then red, turning violet at maturity, non-edible for humans but sought after by birds that spread the seeds.

This Cherry Laurel Etna, not very tall, very hardy, easy to cultivate, truly undemanding in terms of soil and exposure, and tolerant of pruning, is one of the most commonly used shrubs in Northern Europe for creating screen hedges. It indeed possesses all the necessary qualities for trimmed or untrimmed, low or medium hedges. As a low hedge, it provides privacy; as a medium hedge, it forms a windbreak and sound barrier. For planting in a hedge, make sure to space each plant 80cm (31.5in) to 1m (3.3ft) apart. This 'Etna' palm laurel deserves better treatment than pruning with hedge trimmers, which can destroy its foliage and remove its charming flower buds. It looks good in an informal hedge, mixed with other evergreens (Elaeagnus ebbingei, Viburnum tinus, Rhamnus alaternus, Arbutus unedo, Photinia, Taxus (x) media, Pyracantha, Cotoneaster lacteus), or in a shrub bed. If the fruits develop to maturity, they will self-seed to provide many young plants inside or outside the garden.

Attention: The leaves, and all parts of the cherry laurel are toxic if ingested, except for the fruit pulp (the seed is toxic). They contain prussic acid (cyanide), with an aromatic substance called benzaldehyde, with a bitter almond odour. Also found in the nuts of apricot and peach kernels.