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Shrubs

Prunus laurocerasus 'Herbergii'

A dense, evergreen shrub 2m tall with a vase-shaped habit and narrow, lance-shaped, dark green leaves. Small, strongly fragrant white flowers in erect racemes appear in spring if the shrub is not pruned regularly, followed by cherry-like red fruits turning to glossy black. Better frost resistance than other varieties, and forms a neat and compact hedge

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Ultimate height

1.5–2.5 metres

Time to ultimate height

5–10 years

Ultimate spread

0.5–1 metres

Chalk

Clay

Loam

Sand

Moisture

Moist but well–drained, Well–drained

pH

Acid, Alkaline, Neutral

	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Full sun
Partial shade

Aspect

East–facing or North–facing or South–facing or West–facing

Exposure

Sheltered

Hardiness
Hardiness ratings
All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets
H1a: under glass all year (>15C)
H1b: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
H1c: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20)

Botanical details

Family: Rosaceae
Native to GB / Ireland: No
Foliage: Evergreen
Habit: Bushy, Columnar upright
Potentially harmful: Seed kernels harmful if eaten, wear gloves and other protective equipment when handling Pets (dogs, rabbits, rodents): Harmful if eaten - for further information and contact numbers regarding pets, see the HTA guide to potentially harmful plants
Genus: Prunus can be deciduous or evergreen trees or shrubs with showy flowers in spring, and often good autumn foliage colour. Some have edible fruit in autumn, and a few species have ornamental bark
Name status: Accepted

How to grow

Cultivation

Grow in moderately fertile soil in full sun. Has the potential to become a nuisance plant if not managed well

Propagation

Propagate by chip budding or grafting, although softwood cuttings in early summer with bottom heat can be successful

Suggested planting locations and garden types

Architectural
City and courtyard gardens
Cottage and informal garden
Patio and container plants
Wildlife gardens
Hedging and screens

Pruning

Pruning group 8 including hedges in late spring or early summer

Pests

May be susceptible to caterpillars, leaf-mining moths and bullfinches

Diseases

May be susceptible to powdery mildews and other laurel leaf diseases

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