Prunus laurocerasus ‘Otto Luyken’ – Bush (Cherry Laurel)

Hardy, evergreen and great for birds. This is a narrow-leaf version of the more well-known Cherry Laurel. Has precisely the same gloss and shine to its thick and handsome foliage, but has more slender leaves and grows with a low-spreading habit on up-swept branches that form lovely layers and planes. Pretty white panicles of flowers smell divine in spring and after these come little red berries that look like cherries. Don’t bother, leave these for the birds since they can digest them and you really can't. These shrubs are dense and have what we’d describe as a ‘coarse’ texture. We speak Garden Designer fluently (we have several extremely talented) so be reassured that ‘coarse’ means large of leaf, richly-textured and full of shadow and contrast. Trees and shrubs with coarse textures are essential in any garden and ‘Otto Luyken’ is a smashing choice. Can be pruned into low mounds and rounded blobs and look especially nice under trees where their resistance to drier soils and quite deep shade make them extremely useful.