Photo by Chris Evans, University of Illinois, Bugwood.org


Photo by Karan A. Rawlins, University of Georgia, Bugwood .org


Photo by Mary Keim

Height: 20 to 45 feet
Spread: 15 to 30 feet

LANDSCAPE USE
Often used as a hedge or for screening large yards and parks. Excellent for upland resto­ration projects. Also serves as a pruned patio or specimen plant.

FORM
An erect, evergreen tree or dense, spreading to upright shrub with dark green leaves and an oval to somewhat irregular outline.

NATIVE RANGE
Hammocks, disturbed sites, vacant lots, and woodland edges. Virginia, southward to south-central Florida, and west to Louisiana.

CHARACTERISTICS
Flowers: Tiny, white, borne in dense, conspicuous, showy clusters. Spring.
Leaves: Alternate, lustrous dark green, oblong to lance shaped, and 2–4 inches long.
Fruit: A shiny, dark black drupe to about 1/2 inch in diameter. Borne in abundance and relished by birds. Summer to fall.
Bark: Grayish to nearly black.

CULTURE
Soil: Occurs naturally in fertile, well­ drained, acid to alkaline soils.
Exposure: Sun to part shade.
Water: Supplemental irrigation normally not required.
Hardiness Zones: 7 to I0.
Life Span: Probably not more than about 50 years.

BEST FEATURES including WILDLIFE SUPPORT
Forms an excellent hedge. Extended and prolific flowering period. Dense foliage and abundant fruit provides cover and food for birds and other wildlife. Cherry Laurel is vital for many butterfly and moth species larvae which are in turn food for migrating birds.

COMPANION PLANTS
Pignut Hickory (Carya glabra), American Beech (Fagus grandifolia), White Ash (Fraxinus americana), Magnolia (Magnolia grandiflora), Oaks (Quercus spp.), Red Buckeye (Aesculus pavia), Beautyberry (Callicurpa americana), Sweetshrub (Calyanthus floridus), Flat­woods Plum (Prunus umbellata).

DISADVANTAGES
Rapid growth may make it outgrow its space. Displays weedy tendencies such as suckering, susceptible to some leaf spotting and chewing insects, but not significantly so.

ALLERGENIC AND TOXIC PROPERTIES
Caution is advised. Some species in this genus arc known to cause cyanide poisoning and can be lethal in large quantities. Ingestion of smaller amounts may cause a variety of debilitating symptoms. Known to have caused loss of livestock.

SIMILAR AND RELATED SPECIES
Black Cherry (P. serotina) matures into a much larger tree, is deciduous with thin, elliptical leaves, and displays blocky, grayish bark at maturity.