Prunus laurocerasus Obelisk - Cherry Laurel

Prunus laurocerasus 'Obelisk' has all the qualities of the perfect hedge plant. Less bulky than the Cherry Laurel 'Rotundifolia', and with moderate growth, its upright habit limits the need for pruning. Its beautiful medium to dark green elliptical leaves have a shiny texture, while its creamy white flowering in spring is useful to pollinating insects and its black fruits, toxic to humans, are appreciated by birds. As useful as it is ornamental, hardy down to -20°C (-4 °F), adaptable to both sun and shade and in most soils, it's the archetype of the easy beginner's plant.

The Cherry Laurel, sometimes called almond or palm laurel, is an evergreen bush of the Rosaceae family. This very important family, particularly from an economic point of view, gives us most of our temperate climate fruit trees (apples, pears, plums, apricots, peaches, etc.), but also many ornamental plants (Hawthorn, Cotoneaster, Roses, Photinia, Prunus), as well as numerous wild plants that populate the countryside and woodland (such as wild strawberry). Among the hundred or so genera that make up this family, Prunus is among those with the most species, about 300, many of which are fruit-bearing (cherry, plum and apricot trees) or ornamental.

Native to southeastern Europe and Asia Minor, and indigenous in Iran, the Caucasus and Turkey, Prunus laurocerasus is an evergreen bush that can reach a large size (up to 8 m (26 ft) high) and even form proper trunks. The species has produced several cultivars often used as hedges, including 'Obelisk', which is particularly suitable for such use.

The Cherry Laurel 'Obelisk' has several characteristics that make it one of the best varieties for forming a hedge. Smaller than the type species, it can reach 4 to 5 m (13 to 16 ft) height in adulthood if planted alone and left to form freely, but will easily be kept at 2 to 2.5 m (8 ft) with pruning, which it tolerates very well. Its main advantage is its erect form, in contrast to the famous 'Rotundifolia' which spontaneously forms a wide bush with a protruding base. 'Obelisk', on the other hand, forms very vertical shoots, which give it a more or less pyramidal habit and therefore much easier to maintain in a hedge. Since it is very dense from the base upwards, some choose to grow it in decorative pots as a terrace or balcony plant, pruning it relatively low.

Very bushy, it is perfect as a windbreak and screen hedge, at a density of 3 plants per linear metre. Its moderate annual growth - about 30 to 40 cm (12 to 16 in) - and its fairly narrow shape (2.50 m (8 ft) high and about half as wide or less) limits the time needed for pruning. Annual clipping with shears is sufficient, or even with secateurs if there is little length to prune, which allows shortening of the stems without cutting into the leaves.

The elliptical foliage is very decorative, a beautiful medium to dark green with a glossy surface, and the young leaves take on copper red shades. In April-May a fragrant creamy white flowering blooms, attracting bees, bumblebees and butterflies. The small flowers, grouped in corymbs, then give way to black fruits, toxic to humans (especially the seed) but consumed by birds.

Very hardy (down to about -20°C (-4 °F)), this pretty Cherry Laurel is very accommodating with regard to soil type, disliking only overly alkaline or wet conditions. It will grow in most ordinary garden soils with some watering in summer, though once well established it is fairly drought resistant. It is equally tolerant in terms of exposure, growing in full sun as well as partial shade or even shade.

Obelisk will give full satisfaction in low or medium hedge, but its rather natural appearance also encourages to plant it in a mixed hedge with other evergreens, or even in a varied bed, with deciduous, in which its foliage will allow to have greenery all year round. Instead of resorting to the ease of the hedge trimmed with a string, why not plant a free-form hedge, maintained to the desired dimensions by pruning with secateurs? The result will be much more aesthetic than a mono-specific hedge and you can also promote biodiversity in your garden. With the Laurustinus (Viburnum tinus, nothing to do with Prunus!), you will benefit from winter flowerings staggered compared to others. The Elaeagnus ebbingei, or Ebbing's Silverberry, will reward you with a discreet but very fragrant flowering in autumn and a greyish foliage of the best taste in contrast with Obelisk (if necessary, there are also green and yellow variegated cultivars of Silverberries...). The Arbutus unedo will also be a very good companion, decorative in all seasons as it combines at the same time a pleasant evergreen foliage carried by branches with decorative wood, a pretty white bell-shaped flowering and fruits that go from golden yellow to bright red (edible moreover), quite often even the flowers and fruits coexist on the plant!

Be careful: The leaves, and all parts of the cherry laurel are toxic if ingested, except for the pulp of the fruit (the seed is toxic). They contain prussic acid, (cyanhydric acid), associated with an aromatic substance called benzaldehyde, with a bitter almond scent. This principle is also found in the almonds of apricot and peach stones for example.