cherry laurel
Prunus caroliniana
USDA zones7 to 10
SunHandles full sun to partial shade
WaterHandles dry to moist soil
Size15 to 20 feet tall10 to 15 feet wide
- Growth rate
- Rapid
- Habit
- Tree
- Bloom season
- Spring, summer, autumn, winter
- Bloom color
- White
- Foliage color
- Deep green.
- Soil types
- Sand, loam, clay
- Soil pH
- Acid, alkaline, neutral
- Toxicity
- Toxic to pets
Garden uses
Attracts
Notes
Cherry laurel (Prunus caroliniana) is a shrub for hedges, privacy screens, and borders. It is hardy to USDA zone 7, or down to 0°F (-18°C). This plant likes full sun to part shade and dry to moist, sandy, loamy, or clay soil. White flowers open in showy clusters in spring, and bees visit them. Deer usually look elsewhere for a meal. Give it good drainage, since prolonged wet soil can cause root rot.
Pairs well with Oakleaf hydrangea, Trumpet honeysuckle, and Japanese forest grass.
Native range
Southern United States.