Laurel cherry: photos in landscape design, what it is, varieties, care, cultivation

The photo of laurel cherry shows that it is a beautiful shrub with a wide, but rather compact shape. The tree is thermophilic, but many varieties can withstand even up to -30 degrees. Therefore, they can be grown in different regions of Our Country. They are used to obtain berries and more often – in landscape design.

What does laurel look like

Cherry laurel (Prunus laurocerasus) is an evergreen plant from the Prunus genus. Under natural conditions, it is found in regions with a subtropical climate. Cherry laurel grows in regions such as the Balkan Peninsula, the Caucasus, Iran, Turkey, North America.

The leaves of the laurel cherry shrub are arranged alternately, they have an oval shape, the surface is smooth, leathery. The plates are fleshy, they resemble cherry leaves, but much larger. They reach a length of 17-21 cm, and a width of 5-6 cm. Pinnate veins are noticeable, the edges are even, the tips are pointed. Laurel sheds its leaves annually, is a deciduous plant.

The flowering of the shrub goes in May. Flowers with five petals, small, white. Give stamens in large quantities. They gather in inflorescences from 5 to 15 cm long. In the middle of summer, the shrub gives ovaries, after which fruits are formed up to 10 mm in diameter (from 5 to 25 in each brush). The photo of laurel cherry shows that the tree looks especially beautiful during the flowering period.

Inflorescences of laurel cherry appear in May

In appearance, the fruits of the shrub resemble cherries:

• round shape;
• maroon or black color;
• the bone is hard;
• juicy pulp.

Fruiting laurel cherry begins at the age of four or five years. Under the right growing conditions, yields are consistently good.

Cherry laurel height

Laurel cherry belongs to shrubs. Depending on weather conditions and care, it grows up to 4-10 m. The shoots are long and thin, the crown is narrow pyramidal. It grows very fast, the growth rate is high. At the same time, in regions with a harsh climate, shrubs grow only up to 1,5-2 m.

Frost resistance of laurel cherry

Winter hardiness of laurel cherry depends on the variety. Many varieties tolerate frosts only down to -15 degrees, but there are also frost-resistant varieties. Such shrubs are able to endure temperatures up to -20 even without shelter, and with insulation – up to -30 ° C.

Types of laurel cherry

There are several types of laurel cherry, many of which can be grown in the climatic conditions of the middle zone, the North-West and even the Urals. The main varieties include:

1. Rotundifolia (Rotundifolia) is a compact shrub with beautiful leaves (up to 15 cm in length) that glisten in the sun. Black laurel fruits. The variety is drought-resistant, not picky about the composition of the soil.

   

2. Herbergeri is a heat-loving shrub that can be grown only in the North Caucasus and other southern regions of Our Country. Differs in high productivity.

   

3. Mount Vernon (Mount Vernon) – ornamental undersized shrub, reaching only 50 cm in height and 1,5 in width. Feels good even in the shade. Requires good shelter for the winter.

   

4. Portuguese laurel cherry (Prúnus lusitánica) – compact shrubs, reaching a height of 5 m. The leaves are bright green, glossy. It begins to bloom later than the others – from the second decade of June. The inflorescences are not so large, but the fruits are large, painted in a rich burgundy color.

   

Is it possible to eat laurel berries

Fruits of cherry laurel are edible. In favorable conditions, each adult shrub brings up to 100 kg of crop. The pulp is juicy. They are mainly consumed fresh, but can also be frozen for the winter. Most often, the berries of the bush are used as a raw material for winemaking, as well as in the preparation of confectionery.

The fruits of the shrub are edible, they can be safely used for food.

Taste of laurel cherry

The taste of laurel cherry is quite sweet, even cloying. There is astringency, an interesting almond aroma is felt. Unlike real cherries, the fruits of this shrub do not give sourness. They spoil too quickly. Therefore, most often you have to use it in a frozen or canned form – jams, marmalades, fruit drinks and other blanks.

The benefits and harms of laurel cherries

Useful properties of laurel cherry are associated with its chemical composition. Berries contain the following components:

• steroids;
• vitamin C;
• phenolcarboxylic acids;
• tannins;
• benzaldehyde;
• catechins;
• benzyl alcohol;
• essential oils;
• triterpenoid;
• wax.

These components of the shrub perform several important functions in the body:

• prevention of inflammatory processes;
• elimination of cough;
• antibacterial action;
• strengthening the cardiovascular system;
• reduction of pain in the gastrointestinal mucosa;
• weakening of intestinal motility;
• treatment of skin diseases;
• elimination of spasms;
• restoration of the nervous system;
• anthelmintic effect.

It should be understood that only the fruits of the shrub are edible. All other parts, including the bark and foliage, contain toxic substances. Therefore, it is permissible to use them for the preparation of tea, infusion or other means only with strict adherence to the dosage.

In some cases, if this requirement is violated, side effects are possible:

• dyspnea;
• labored breathing;
• allergic reactions;
• indigestion.

If the condition worsens sharply, it is recommended to seek emergency help. Before this, the patient should be given several tablets of activated charcoal (must be chewed) and washed down with a glass of water.

How to plant laurel cherry

Planting shrub seedlings is planned for April or October. It can be grown both in open ground and in pots on terraces or insulated balconies. There are several factors to consider when choosing a location:

• good illuminance;
• dryness (no stagnant water after rain);
• wind protection.

Shrubs grow well in sunny areas

Holes should be dug at intervals of 2-3 m. If they plan to make a hedge, the distance is reduced to 1-1,5 m. The soil must first be prepared by adding compost or humus (up to 10 kg per 1 m²). If the soil is dense, clayey, sawdust or sand is added in the amount of 3-5 kg ​​for the same area.

The landing process itself is quite simple:

1. Dig holes with a depth and diameter of 50-70 cm.
2. Lay a layer of drainage (small stones).
3. Put a sapling of laurel cherry in the center, straighten the roots.
4. Then dig in so that the root collar remains at the surface level.
5. Pour a bucket of settled water.
6. Mulch with hay, straw, needles or other materials.

Care for laurels

Laurel cherry is quite demanding on watering. Water the shrub should be given once a week (if there is no rain). When hot weather is established, watering is done twice a week. Also, in a drought, you should regularly spray the crown in the evening. For each tree spend a bucket of settled water. An adult shrub can be given a double rate. In late autumn, watering is done no more than once a month.

Periodically, the soil is loosened, weeds are removed from the root zone of the shrub. To keep them as small as possible, lay a layer of mulch. The plant is very fond of top dressing. In April, he is given urea or ammonium nitrate (up to 40 g per plant). On the eve of flowering, they are fed with rotted compost or mullein infusion 1:10. During budding and flowering, a complex composition is added according to the instructions. You can give superphosphate (40 g) and potassium salt (30 g).

A very important rule of care is the timely pruning of shrubs. To do this, they act like this:

1. At the end of February or the beginning of March, a sanitary haircut is carried out, all sick, frost-affected branches, dry, weakened shoots are removed.
2. At the end of September, they plan a shaping haircut – they outline the contours of the crown and remove all the shoots that have clearly grown.
3. If the shrub is used for a summer hedge, pruning along the contour is carried out throughout the season. Shoots grow quickly, so they have to be removed every 2-3 weeks.

Shrubs are covered with agrofibre for the winter

How laurel cherries reproduce

Laurel cherries can be propagated in several ways, for example, grown from seeds, cuttings, or layering. The main methods are described below.

bones

At the end of summer, stones are collected from the ripened fruits of the laurel cherry bush and placed in a cool, damp place (for example, in sand and in a refrigerator) for 3-4 months. In March, they are cleaned in a warm place for three days, planted in a pot with garden soil and peat (2: 1). Periodically watered, give complex fertilizer. Young seedlings of laurel cherry are transplanted to a permanent place only after a year, i.e. approximately in the middle – the second half of April.

Cherry laurel cuttings

The simplest and most effective way to propagate laurel cherry shrubs is cuttings. The instruction is this:

1. In the first half of July, cut young shoots from a two-year-old bush.
2. Remove all leaves.
3. Cut into pieces 10 cm long (each should have 2-3 kidneys).
4. Plant in fertile, moist soil.
5. Transfer the containers to the greenhouse (it is necessary that the temperature be maintained at 24-27 degrees).
6. Periodically water young bushes of laurel cherry.
7. Seed in autumn in separate pots and send to the house for the winter.
8. You can plant young shrubs in open ground next fall.

Layers

Also, reproduction of laurel cherry is possible by layering. In this case, they act like this:

1. At the beginning of spring, the lower young shoots are tilted, pinned, covered with fertile soil.
2. Water regularly to form healthy roots.
3. In autumn, all rooted parts are cut off from the mother shrub, planted in a permanent place.
4. Thoroughly mulch the root zone of laurel cherry for the winter.

Pests and diseases of laurel cherry

The shrub is poisonous, therefore it is practically not affected by insects – they quickly die, having fed on the juices of the leaves. However, it can be affected by birds that readily feed on berries. Therefore, it is worth installing scarecrows, traps, ultrasonic repellers.

Also, gardeners note that sometimes aphids, mealybugs or scale insects parasitize on the laurel shrub. In these cases, the plant and the near-stem circle are recommended to be treated with insecticides:

• “Aktara”;
• “Fufanon”;
• “Inta-Vir”;
• “Decis”.

If the laurel cherry bush is not very affected by insects, it can be treated with folk remedies. For example, take 2 liters of whey, dissolve in 8 liters of water and spray every three days. You can do treatments with a solution of liquid soap (2 tablespoons) with baking soda (3 tablespoons) per 10 liters of water.

Shrubs should be periodically inspected and, if necessary, treated with drugs.

As for diseases, most often laurel cherry suffers from powdery mildew. You can determine this fungal infection by external signs:

• white coating on the surface of the leaf plates;
• reddish shades, rings on the foliage, like a mosaic;
• the foliage dries up and falls off;
• the shrub looks weakened, ceases to develop.

For treatment, all affected shoots of laurel cherry are removed and burned. Healthy shrubs (including neighboring plantings) are sprayed with sulfur-containing preparations. Fungicides are also recommended:

• “Topaz”;
• “Maksim”;
• “Thiovit Jet”;
• “Abiga-Peak” and others.

Useful Properties

The beneficial properties of the fruits of the shrub help to use it as an additional treatment for such pathologies and disorders:

• diseases of the cardiovascular system;
• increased peristalsis of the gastrointestinal tract;
• diseases of the skin and mucous membranes;
• cramping;
• neurological disorders;
• helminths, parasites in the intestines;
• cough;
• inflammatory processes in the organs of the respiratory system and others.

The use of laurel cherry in medicine

For medical purposes, the ground parts of the laurel shrub are used. On the basis of flowers, cosmetic products for the face are made. The extract obtained from them allows you to eliminate the inflammatory process, relieve irritation, cope with acne, tighten the skin.

From the leaves of the laurel cherry bush, decoctions are obtained to relieve spasms, anesthetize, treat cough, and protect the mucous membranes of the gastrointestinal tract. They are also used to eliminate helminths, bacteria and viruses. Help with gastritis, headache, ulcers in the digestive organs.

Противопоказания

The use of fruits and other parts of the shrub for medicinal purposes is not allowed in such cases:

• pregnancy (all trimesters);
• feeding period;
• children up to 15 years old inclusive;
• individual intolerance.

Often side effects are: redness, itching, rash, swelling and other allergic reactions. When such symptoms occur, it is necessary to wash the stomach, take activated charcoal. In extreme cases, seek medical attention.

Laurel in landscape design

The shrub fits very well into the design of almost any garden – large and small, country style, English lawn and other directions. Very often it is used in single landings, there are also other options, for example:

1. Living hedge of laurel cherry.

   

2. Globular shrubs.

   

3. Single landing.

   

4. Another hedge option based on dense placement.

   

5. Bay cherry on the stem.

   

Conclusion

The photos of laurel cherries presented in the article demonstrate the beauty of this shrub. It grows very well, forms dense thickets. Therefore, the plant is often used to create hedges. Care is not very difficult – if you regularly water, fertilize and cover for the winter, the shrubs will be healthy and very beautiful.