Cherry Laurel 'Caucasica' (Prunus laurocerasus 'Caucasica') – Tall, Upright Evergreen Screening at Its Best
Prunus laurocerasus 'Caucasica' is one of the most widely planted and highly regarded cultivars of Cherry Laurel, prized above all for its strongly upright, columnar growth habit. Where the species can spread broadly and informally, 'Caucasica' grows with purpose — tall, narrow, and dense — making it the preferred choice for gardeners and landscapers who need a structured, space-efficient evergreen screen without constant intervention.
With its large, rich-green leaves, vigorous constitution, and excellent tolerance of difficult conditions, 'Caucasica' delivers reliable year-round privacy, wind protection, and visual impact. It is equally at home as a clipped formal hedge along a boundary or left to develop naturally as a bold, upright specimen.
Key Features
Strongly upright, columnar habit — ideal for tall, narrow screening
Large, glossy, deep-green evergreen foliage with year-round appeal
Vigorous growth rate, quickly establishing an effective privacy barrier
Highly tolerant of shade, urban pollution, wind, and a wide range of soils
Fragrant white flower spikes in spring followed by wildlife-friendly dark fruits
Responds well to clipping — excellent for formal hedges or natural form alike
Habit & Appearance
Form: 'Caucasica' is distinguished from the common Cherry Laurel by its markedly upright, fastigiate growth. Rather than spreading wide, it naturally reaches upward, forming a tall, dense column of foliage that provides height and screening without encroaching on paths, borders, or neighbouring plots. This makes it particularly well suited to tighter spaces where a broad spreading shrub would become unmanageable.
Foliage: The leaves are large, leathery, and a deep lustrous green — bold and handsome throughout the year. New growth emerges as a fresh lime-green before deepening to its characteristic rich tone, providing subtle seasonal colour interest through the growing period.
Flowers & Fruit: In mid to late spring, erect racemes of small, delicately scented white flowers are produced, offering an attractive and often underappreciated floral display. These are followed in autumn by clusters of small, dark purple-black berries that are eagerly taken by birds and other garden wildlife. Note: the berries are toxic to humans and should be treated with care.
Ultimate Size: Left unpruned, 'Caucasica' will reach 6–8m in height with a relatively modest spread, considerably more upright than the species. Growth rates are vigorous — typically 40–60cm per year in good conditions — and the plant responds readily to pruning to maintain whatever height is required.
Growing Conditions
Position: Exceptionally versatile in terms of light. 'Caucasica' performs well in full sun, partial shade, or even dense shade, thriving beneath a tree canopy, along a north-facing boundary, or in an open, exposed location. Its adaptability to light levels is one of its greatest strengths as a screening plant.
Soil: Tolerant of a wide range of soil types including clay, chalk, loam, and sandy soils, provided the ground is reasonably well-drained. It prefers a moist, moderately fertile growing medium but copes well in drier conditions once established. Avoid permanently waterlogged or boggy ground, which can lead to root problems over time.
Hardiness: Fully hardy throughout the UK and most of Northern Europe. 'Caucasica' withstands hard frosts, cold winds, and exposed conditions without significant damage, making it a reliable choice in challenging coastal or upland gardens.
Wind & Pollution Tolerance: Notably robust in exposed, windy positions and highly tolerant of urban air pollution — well suited to city gardens, roadside plantings, and coastal boundaries where tougher conditions prevail.
Care & Pruning
Watering: Water regularly during the first growing season to support strong root establishment. Once settled in, 'Caucasica' is a resilient, largely self-sufficient plant that requires little supplementary watering in average UK conditions, though it will benefit from irrigation during prolonged dry spells in its early years.
Feeding: Apply a balanced general-purpose fertiliser in early spring to encourage vigorous, healthy growth — particularly beneficial in poorer or drier soils. An annual mulch of well-rotted organic matter around the base will help retain soil moisture, improve fertility, and suppress weed competition.
Pruning: For use as a formal hedge or structured screen, trim once or twice a year — ideally in late spring after flowering and again in late summer if a second cut is needed to maintain a tidy shape. Use sharp secateurs rather than shears where possible to avoid cutting cleanly through the large leaves, as ragged cuts can result in unsightly browning at the edges. Thanks to its naturally upright form, 'Caucasica' requires less lateral trimming than broader-spreading cultivars and is particularly easy to maintain at a controlled height. If grown as a freestanding specimen, only light, occasional pruning is needed to remove any crossing
Does the height include the pot?
No, we measure from the top of the pot to the tip of the plant except for some of the instant planted screens, in this case it will be stated in the description
How long does delivery take?
Most orders are delivered in just a few days, Smaller items are often sent with Parcelforce on a next day service, Larger items should allow up to 10 days due to the size of the items they often have to be sent on our own transport.
Where will you leave my plants?
We will leave your order at the front of your property, Parcelforce may
leave your items in a safe place if you let us know, Pallet couriers
will require a flat hard surface to deliver to, no gravel or soil, a
driveway or parking spot would be best. Most importantly Deliveries by
pallet courier will require access for a large truck (bin lorry sized)
to get near the delivery point. Deliveries sent on our own transport may come in a small van or larger truck.
