Plant: Compacta - Cherry Laurel
Cherry Laurel · Prunus laurocerasus 'Compacta'
Size: 7 gal
Light
Bloom
Mature size
More about this plant
Compacta is a selection of cherry laurel, an evergreen shrub or small tree in the rose family native to Europe. The species has an erect habit and glossy dark green leaves, fragrant white star shaped flowers under an inch across held in dense cylindrical racemes up to four inches long in spring, and purple black drupes in summer. It grows rapidly in full sun through deep shade in clay, loam, sandy or organic soil with good drainage, and tolerates alkaline soils, dry and poor soils, pollution and heavy pruning while being intolerant of heavy fertilization. Cherry laurel is used as a screen for shaded areas, a tall hedge, a mass planting or a specimen, and it is more disease and insect resistant than other Prunus species.
- Full Shade
- Grows to 15 ft tall and 10 ft wide
- Blooms in spring
- Hardy in USDA zones 6-8
- Evergreen foliage
Plant description
Compacta is a selection of cherry laurel, an evergreen shrub or small tree in the rose family native to Europe. The species has an erect habit and glossy dark green leaves, fragrant white star shaped flowers under an inch across held in dense cylindrical racemes up to four inches long in spring, and purple black drupes in summer. It grows rapidly in full sun through deep shade in clay, loam, sandy or organic soil with good drainage, and tolerates alkaline soils, dry and poor soils, pollution and heavy pruning while being intolerant of heavy fertilization. Cherry laurel is used as a screen for shaded areas, a tall hedge, a mass planting or a specimen, and it is more disease and insect resistant than other Prunus species.
- Flowers
- White, star shaped flowers with 4 to 5 petals and about 20 stamens, under an inch across, carried in dense cylindrical axillary racemes up to 4 inches long.
- Foliage
- Broadleaf evergreen, simple, alternate and elliptical to oblong with entire to serrate margins, glossy and dark green, with 2 to 8 conspicuous glands on the underside of the blade.
- Light
- Dappled/Filtered Light, Deep Shade
- Native range
- Europe
