Thanks to its rapid and vigorous growth, the cherry laurel forms dense, evergreen hedges in a short time. Easy to cut and relatively easy to care for, the laurel cherry also cuts a fine figure as an attractive solitary plant.
How fast does the cherry laurel grow?
The cherry laurel is a fast-growing shrub that increases in height by around 30 to 50 centimeters annually and reaches up to seven meters within a few years. It is ideal for dense and evergreen hedges and is also undemanding and easy to care for.
Popular because of its enormous growth rate
With the correct planting distance and under optimal conditions, the cherry laurel forms a high and opaque garden border within a few years. The shrub grows around thirty to fifty centimeters annually and, depending on the species, reaches a height of up to seven meters when left unpruned and growing freely.
In the ground cover species, the growth in height is minimal, but the growth in width is up to forty centimeters per year. You can easily green up unsightly garden corners where almost nothing else thrives with cherry laurel.
Undemanding woody plant
The laurel cherry, which belongs to the same botanical genus as cherries and plums, is relatively undemanding and also grows well in shade or partial shade. This is important for hedges, as the same conditions rarely exist in all locations around the property. The cherry laurel can also tolerate short-term drought and, thanks to its strong root system, thrives even in the root network of tall trees.
Disadvantage of the fast-growing shrub
When planting the hedge, remember that it will continue to grow quickly even when it has reached the height you want. It then needs to be cut regularly at least once a year so that it doesn't grow too much on you.
Tips & Tricks
Because the cherry laurel grows so quickly, the tree can greatly reduce the already limited land area of a small garden. It is recommended to choose a variety that grows a little slower and to prune the cherry laurel twice a year.