With their pretty appearance, cherry laurel and hydrangeas encourage imaginative combinations. Read here why the garden plants complement each other decoratively. Let these tips and ideas inspire you for the perfect design of a representative cherry laurel-hydrangea hedge.
Can cherry laurel and hydrangeas be planted together as a hedge?
Cherry laurel and hydrangeas can be combined as a hedge because they prefer similar site conditions and complement each other. Cherry laurel provides privacy and partial shade, while hydrangeas provide colorful flowers.
Can I combine cherry laurel and hydrangeas as a hedge?
Convincing arguments advocate the combination of evergreen cherry laurels and deciduous hydrangeas:
- Dark green shiny cherry laurel leaves contrast impressively with colorful hydrangea flowers.
- Upright cherry laurel (Prunus laurocerasus) acts as a wind and privacy screen and creates advantageous partial shade for hydrangeas (Hydrangea).
- In a hydrangea hedge, low cherry laurel (Prunus laurocerasus) is useful as an evergreen ground cover.
- Location-tolerant cherry laurel also thrives in hydrangea-friendly, acidic garden soil.
- Nutrient and water supplies largely match.
- The common time for pruning cherry laurel and hydrangeas is in spring.
Which trees complement a cherry laurel-hydrangea hedge?
The trend in contemporary garden design is colorfulmixed hedges with privacy protection functions, which provide a habitat for insects and birds. A cherry laurel-hydrangea hedge benefits visually and ecologically if you add these trees:
- Viburnum, evergreen, flowering period November to April, 80-150 cm.
- Alpine rose (rhododendron), evergreen, flowering period April to May, 140-300 cm.
- Dogwood (Cornus sanguinea), red winter shoots, autumn color, flowering period May to June, 300-500 cm.
- Oval-leaved privet (Ligustrum ovalifolium), wintergreen, easy to care for, 250-400 cm.
- Conifers: arborvitae (Thuja occidentalis), yew (Taxus baccata), evergreen, 200-1000 cm.
Which perennials go well with cherry laurel and hydrangeas?
As plant neighbors of cherry laurel and hydrangeas, perennials take on the function of underplanting. Suitable candidates must be able to tolerateshade and root pressure, thrive in slightly acidic soil, and have similar water and nutrient requirements.
The heart-leaved foam flower 'Moorgrün' (Tiarella cordifolia) masters this challenge perfectly with a sea of white flowers in April and May. In summer, hostas (Hosta) bloom with their picturesque decorative leaves. The legendary Christmas rose (Helleborus niger) is a winter bloomer whose white flowers contain valuable nectar.
Which grasses harmonize with cherry laurel and hydrangeas?
Grasses are thedelicate component in the interaction of cherry laurel and hydrangeas. As underplanting, ornamental grasses keep the soil moist longer. At eye level, tufts of grass and ears of corn decoratively loosen up the look. Majestic grass species optimize privacy. The top 3 recommended species and varieties:
- White-variegated Japanese sedge 'Variegata' (Carex morrowii), height 20-50 cm.
- Chinese reed 'Little Fontaine' (Miscanthus sinensis), height 150-170 cm.
- Columnar bamboo 'Maasai' (Fargesia murielae), height 200-300 cm.
Tip
NABU demonizes cherry laurel
NABU managing director Sönke Hofmann advises against planting cherry laurel. The conservationist considers the ecological value of a concrete wall to be higher than the importance of a cherry laurel hedge for our ecosystem. The evergreen shrub is poisonous, spreads rapidly and robs local herbal resources of their habitat. Recommended cherry laurel alternatives for the natural garden are bee-friendly trees such as buddleia (Buddleja davidii), bearded flower (Caryopteris), bee tree (Tetradium daniellii) and hawthorn (Crataegus).
