If you’re looking for a classic, fragrant evergreen for your garden, you’ll likely consider the laurel. The types of laurel trees available to gardeners are diverse and fragrant evergreen options, each with its own special charm. This guide will help you understand the different varieties, from the true culinary laurel to popular hedging plants, so you can choose the perfect one for your space.
Types Of Laurel Trees – Diverse And Fragrant Evergreen
Laurels are a fantastic group of plants. They offer year-round greenery, often have beautiful spring flowers, and many fill the air with a sweet scent. But not all laurels are the same. Some are small trees, others are large shrubs, and their needs can vary. Knowing the differences is key to a healthy, thriving plant.
What Defines a Laurel Tree?
Botanically, “laurel” can be a bit confusing. The name is used for plants from several different genera. They are typically characterized by glossy, leathery leaves and a robust, evergreen habit. Many are known for their tolerance of pruning, making them excellent for formal shapes or hedges.
Here are the key features most laurels share:
- Evergreen foliage (though a few are deciduous).
- Simple, alternate leaves that are often glossy.
- Small, usually white or cream flowers held in clusters.
- Aromatic leaves or flowers in many species.
- Berries or drupes that follow the flowers.
The True Laurel: Laurus Nobilis
This is the classic laurel of history and cuisine. Laurus nobilis is the bay tree used to flavor soups and stews. It’s a true tree, slowly reaching up to 40 feet in ideal conditions, but often kept smaller in pots.
- Leaves: Dark green, glossy, and highly aromatic when crushed.
- Growth Habit: Upright and dense; can be trained into lollipop standards.
- Best Uses: Culinary herb, container plant, formal evergreen specimen.
- Hardiness: Prefers mild climates (Zones 8-10) and needs protection from harsh frost.
Growing Bay Laurel Successfully
Bay trees are realtively easy to care for if you meet their basic needs. They dislike wet feet and cold, drying winds.
- Planting: Choose a sunny to partly shaded spot with very well-draining soil. If planting in a pot, use a soil-based compost.
- Watering: Water regularly but allow the top soil to dry out between waterings. Reduce water in winter.
- Feeding: Apply a balanced fertilizer in spring and mid-summer.
- Pruning: Prune in late spring or summer to shape. You can harvest leaves year-round.
Popular Ornamental and Hedging Laurels
This group includes some of the most common garden laurels. They grow fast, provide excellent screening, and are generally tough as nails.
Cherry Laurel (Prunus laurocerasus)
This is a powerhouse hedging plant. It has large, bright green leaves and grows very quickly, which can be both a blessing and a curse.
- Key Cultivars: ‘Rotundifolia’ is a common upright form. ‘Otto Luyken’ is a compact, spreading variety better for smaller spaces.
- Flowers & Fruit: Produces upright spikes of white flowers in spring, followed by black berries.
- Caution: All parts of this plant are poisonous if ingested.
Portuguese Laurel (Prunus lusitanica)
Many gardeners consider this the more elegant cousin of Cherry Laurel. It has darker green leaves with red stems, giving it a refined look.
- Growth: Slightly slower and more tree-like than Cherry Laurel.
- Leaves: Smaller, darker, and neater in appearance.
- Uses: Makes a superb formal hedge or a beautiful standalone specimen tree.
Less Common But Beautiful Laurel Varieties
Beyond the usual suspects, several other laurels deserve attention for their unique beauty.
Spotted Laurel (Aucuba japonica)
While not a true laurel, its common name sticks. It’s famed for its stunning variegated leaves, speckled with yellow.
- Key Feature: Excellent for deep shade where other evergreens struggle.
- Berries: Female plants produce bright red berries if a male pollinator is nearby.
Zabel’s Laurel (Phillyrea latifolia)
This is a tough, drought-tolerant alternative. It has small, serrated leaves and a fine texture, resembling an olive tree.
It’s perfect for hot, dry gardens and can be clipped into tight shapes or left to grow naturally. Its resilience makes it a top choice for coastal or urban settings.
How to Choose the Right Laurel for Your Garden
Selecting the best laurel depends on your goal. Ask yourself these questions:
- What is the main purpose? (e.g., hedge, screen, specimen tree, culinary use).
- How much space do you have? Check the mature height and spread.
- What are your soil and climate conditions? Check hardiness zones and drainage.
- How much maintenance are you willing to do? Fast growers need more frequent pruning.
Planting Your Laurel Tree: A Step-by-Step Guide
Proper planting gives your laurel the best start. The best time to plant is in autumn or spring when the soil is workable.
- Dig the Hole: Make it twice as wide as the root ball but no deeper.
- Improve the Soil: Mix the excavated soil with compost or well-rotted manure.
- Position the Plant: Place the root ball in the hole so the top is level with the soil surface.
- Backfill: Fill in around the roots with your soil mix, firming gently as you go.
- Water Thoroughly: Soak the area to settle the soil and eliminate air pockets.
- Mulch: Apply a layer of mulch around the base, keeping it away from the stem.
Essential Care and Maintenance
Laurels are generally low-maintenance, but a little care goes a long way.
Watering and Feeding
New laurels need consistent watering for the first year. Established plants are quite drought-tolerant, except for potted bay trees. Feed in early spring with a slow-release, balanced fertilizer to support that year’s growth.
Pruning and Shaping
Pruning keeps hedges dense and specimens tidy. For flowering varieties, prune just after the blooms fade to avoid cutting off next year’s flower buds.
- Hedges: Trim in late spring and again in late summer if needed.
- Bay Standards: Clip the ball shape in summer.
- Renovation: Overgrown laurels can be hard pruned in spring, but avoid cutting into old, bare wood with no leaves.
Common Problems and Solutions
Laurels are robust, but they can face a few issues.
Leaf Spot and Shot Hole
Fungal diseases can cause holes or spots on leaves. Improve air circulation, avoid overhead watering, and rake up fallen leaves. Severe cases may need a fungicide.
Vine Weevil
These pests are a nemisis for potted bay trees. The grubs eat roots. Look for notched leaf edges. Use biological nematode treatments in the soil.
Yellowing Leaves (Chlorosis)
Yellow leaves with green veins often indicate a nutrient deficiency, usually iron, in alkaline soils. Apply a chelated iron treatment and consider using an ericaceous fertilizer.
Propagating Laurel Trees
You can create new plants from an existing laurel. The two most reliable methods are semi-hardwood cuttings and layering.
- Semi-Hardwood Cuttings: In late summer, take 4-6 inch cuttings from this year’s growth. Remove the lower leaves, dip in rooting hormone, and place in a pot of gritty compost. Keep humid until rooted.
- Layering: Bend a low, flexible branch to the ground. Bury a section of it, leaving the tip exposed. Once it roots (in about a year), sever it from the parent plant.
Design Ideas Using Laurel Trees
Laurels are incredibly versatile in the landscape. Here are some ways to use them.
- Formal Hedge: Use Portuguese Laurel for a smart, dark green boundary.
- Topiary: Bay laurel is perfect for training into spiral or pom-pom shapes.
- Woodland Underplanting: Spotted Laurel or ‘Otto Luyken’ Cherry Laurel brighten shady areas.
- Fragrant Corner: Plant a group of flowering cherry laurels near a seating area to enjoy their scent.
- Container Gardening: A bay tree in a handsome pot frames a doorway beautifully.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Are all laurel trees poisonous?
Many ornamental laurels (Prunus species) are toxic if ingested. However, the true Bay Laurel (Laurus nobilis) leaves are safe for culinary use. Always identify your plant correctly before consuming any part of it.
How fast do laurel hedge plants grow?
Growth rates vary. Cherry Laurel can grow 1-2 feet per year under ideal conditions. Portuguese Laurel is slower, at about 1 foot per year. Bay laurel is the slowest of the group.
Can laurel grow in full shade?
Some can. Spotted Laurel (Aucuba) thrives in deep shade. Cherry and Portuguese laurels tolerate partial shade but will become leggy and flower less in full shade.
What’s the best laurel tree for small gardens?
Compact cultivars like Prunus laurocerasus ‘Otto Luyken’ or a bay tree kept in a pot are ideal. You might also consider the smaller-leafed Phillyrea for its fine texture.
Why are the leaves on my laurel turning brown?
Brown leaves can be caused by several factors: winter frost damage, wind scorch, drought, or waterlogged roots. Check your watering practices and the plant’s location for clues.
When should you plant laurel trees?
The optimal times are early autumn or spring. Autumn planting allows roots to establish before summer, while spring planting avoids the hardest winter frosts for young plants.
Laurels are a rewarding addition to many gardens. Whether you want a kitchen herb, a privacy screen, or a structural evergreen, there’s a type of laurel tree suited to the task. By choosing the right variety and providing basic care, you can enjoy there lush, fragrant presence for many years to come. Remember to consider its final size and needs before planting, and you’ll have a beautiful, low-fuss plant that adds year-round structure and life to your outdoor space.