Cherry Laurel: The Queen of Hedges and Florists' Greenery
Cherry laurel (Prunus laurocerasus) is a plant you probably know without realizing it. Its glossy, leathery, deep green leaves are an indispensable part of many of our mixed bouquets.
A common mix-up happens here — people confuse it with true bay laurel (the classic culinary bay leaf). Even though it's sometimes called "cherry bay" colloquially, watch out! Cherry laurel is a purely ornamental plant.
Important Warning: It Doesn't Belong in Soup!
Before we get into growing it, we need to bust one dangerous myth.
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Bay laurel (bay leaf): A culinary herb, grows in the Mediterranean, freezes outdoors here.
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Cherry laurel: An ornamental shrub that handles Czech frosts just fine. The entire plant is toxic (both the leaves and the pits inside the fruit).
Rule of thumb: Never use cherry laurel in the kitchen or for home remedies! Its beauty belongs strictly in a vase and in the garden.
Floral Use: Why We Love It
As florists, we swear by cherry laurel. It's our "secret weapon" for lush, full bouquets.
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Lasts forever: In a vase, its leaves stay fresh and glossy for a good 3 weeks — often outlasting the flowers themselves.
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Visual volume: Thanks to its large, sturdy leaves, it beautifully fills out space in a bouquet and hides the technical binding.
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Luxurious shine: Its leaves look almost lacquered, giving bouquets an elegant touch.
Growing It: Experience From Our Own Garden
We grow cherry laurel ourselves, so we know it's practically indestructible. We have a whole hedge of it, which brings us joy year-round (it's evergreen, so it doesn't drop its leaves even in winter).
How to Care for It?
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Location: It doesn't mind either way. It will grow in full sun (denser) or in deep shade (with larger leaves).
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Soil: It needs slightly acidic to neutral soil. It only dislikes waterlogging — the roots then rot.
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Watering: Watch out in winter! Since it keeps its leaves even in January, it still evaporates water. If there's no frost, water it in winter too, otherwise it will dry out (it won't freeze, but it will dry out from thirst).
Pruning Tip (June to September)
If you have a hedge like ours, you need to keep it in check. Cherry laurel grows very fast.
Gardener's advice: "Don't use an electric hedge trimmer on cherry laurel unless you have to. Electric shears 'chew up' the leaves in half, and the cut edges then turn an ugly brown. It's best to prune it by hand (with garden shears), and always cut a twig, not a leaf. Your hedge will look much better this way."
Varieties We Recommend
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Novita: Grows fast, is hardy, and has large leaves. Ideal for hedges.
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Rotundifolia: Has rounder, lighter-colored leaves.
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Caucasica: Grows more upright, suited for narrow spaces.
Whether you have it in your garden or receive it in one of our bouquets, cherry laurel is a symbol of lasting greenery and energy.
BROWSE BOUQUETS WITH GREENERY >
Team KvětinyExpres.cz
