How far apart should I plant Cherry laurel?

About 1.5 m (4.9 ft) apart, centre to centre. A mature plant spreads 3–6 m (10–20 ft).

Does Cherry laurel need full sun?

Part sun to part shade: at least 4 hours of direct sun a day.

How much water does Cherry laurel need?

Moderate water. Drought tolerance is moderate and waterlogging tolerance low.

How cold-hardy is Cherry laurel?

It tolerates about -20 °C (-4 °F) once established, roughly USDA zone 6.

When does Cherry laurel flower?

From about April for 2–4 weeks (northern hemisphere; later in cold climates, earlier in warm ones).

Is Cherry laurel poisonous to cats and dogs?

For cats it is severely toxic; for dogs severely toxic; for people severely toxic. Crushed leaves and seeds release hydrogen cyanide, which can be fatal if eaten in quantity.

What grows well with Cherry laurel?

Gardeners plant garlic chives among roses to deter aphids and black spot; the evidence is weak and mostly anecdotal.

Cherry laurel Prunus laurocerasus

Cherry laurel (Prunus laurocerasus) is an evergreen perennial shrub in the Rosaceae family, native to Southeast Europe and Asia Minor (Balkans to the Caucasus). It grows 3–6 m (10–20 ft) tall and 3–6 m (10–20 ft) wide, wants part sun to part shade and moderate water, and is hardy to about -20 °C (-4 °F). Space plants about 1.5 m (4.9 ft) apart.

Plan Cherry laurel in your garden →
Free. Draw your beds, then watch it grow through the year in 2D and 3D.

Cherry laurel at a glance

Type	Perennial shrub, evergreen
Family	Rosaceae
Mature height	3–6 m (10–20 ft)
Mature spread	3–6 m (10–20 ft)
Spacing	1.5 m (4.9 ft) centre to centre
Sun	Part sun to part shade, at least 4 h of direct sun a day
Water	Moderate; drought tolerance moderate, waterlogging tolerance low
Soil pH	5.5–7.5
Cold hardiness	About -20 °C (-4 °F) once established (roughly USDA zone 6)
Heat stress	Likely above about 34 °C (93 °F)
Flowering	from about April for 2–4 weeks (northern hemisphere; later in cold climates, earlier in warm ones)
Wind tolerance	Moderate
Pollinator value	Moderate
Edible	Not grown as food
Native to	Southeast Europe and Asia Minor (Balkans to the Caucasus)
Common in gardens of	🇬🇧 United Kingdom, 🇩🇪 Germany, 🇫🇷 France
Invasive in	Switzerland (invasive neophyte list), Pacific Northwest US (naturalised in woodland), UK (naturalised in woodland): check local rules before planting

Is Cherry laurel toxic?

People: severely toxic
Cats: severely toxic
Dogs: severely toxic
Parts: leaves, seeds, bark

Crushed leaves and seeds release hydrogen cyanide, which can be fatal if eaten in quantity.

If a child or pet may have eaten part of a plant, call a poison centre or vet straight away.

Companion planting: what to grow with Cherry laurel

Good neighbours

good With Garlic chives: Gardeners plant garlic chives among roses to deter aphids and black spot; the evidence is weak and mostly anecdotal. Evidence D

Shared pests and diseases

Phytophthora ramorum: Sudden oak death pathogen; rhododendron, viburnum, camellia and pieris spread it to oaks and larch. Evidence B

Questions about Cherry laurel

How far apart should I plant Cherry laurel?: About 1.5 m (4.9 ft) apart, centre to centre. A mature plant spreads 3–6 m (10–20 ft).
Does Cherry laurel need full sun?: Part sun to part shade: at least 4 hours of direct sun a day.
How much water does Cherry laurel need?: Moderate water. Drought tolerance is moderate and waterlogging tolerance low.
How cold-hardy is Cherry laurel?: It tolerates about -20 °C (-4 °F) once established, roughly USDA zone 6.
When does Cherry laurel flower?: From about April for 2–4 weeks (northern hemisphere; later in cold climates, earlier in warm ones).
Is Cherry laurel poisonous to cats and dogs?: For cats it is severely toxic; for dogs severely toxic; for people severely toxic. Crushed leaves and seeds release hydrogen cyanide, which can be fatal if eaten in quantity.
What grows well with Cherry laurel?: Gardeners plant garlic chives among roses to deter aphids and black spot; the evidence is weak and mostly anecdotal.

Sources and evidence

Evidence grade C (C: plausible, mixed evidence).

RHS Plant Finder, Royal Horticultural Society
Missouri Botanical Garden Plant Finder, Missouri Botanical Garden
ASPCA Toxic and Non-Toxic Plant List, ASPCA
CABI Invasive Species Compendium, CABI

Notes and assumptions

Typical garden-form values; cultivars and local conditions differ.
Often clipped as a screen at 2-4 m; unclipped plants grow larger; shade tolerant and spreads by bird-sown seed.

Reference values for planning, not horticultural, veterinary or medical advice. Varieties, soils and local climates differ: check with a local nursery or extension service.

Related plants

Strawberry Fragaria x ananassa
Dwarf apple tree Malus domestica
Common ninebark Physocarpus opulifolius
Serviceberry Amelanchier canadensis
Raspberry Rubus idaeus
Blackberry Rubus fruticosus agg.
Garden rose Rosa x hybrida
Japanese flowering cherry Prunus serrulata