Laurel Hedging Instant Screen 250/270cm Tall & 90cm Wide Column

🌿 Prunus laurocerasus ‘Rotundifolia’

Cherry Laurel – Fast-Growing, Dense Evergreen Hedging

Prunus laurocerasus ‘Rotundifolia’, commonly known as Cherry Laurel, is a vigorous, hardy evergreen shrub prized for its large, rounded green leaves and fast growth, making it a favourite for creating dense, year-round privacy hedges. Its bold foliage provides a glossy, lush backdrop in all seasons, while its tolerance of pruning, pollution, and shade makes it exceptionally versatile for a wide range of garden settings.

In spring, this laurel produces upright clusters of fragrant white flowers, followed by red berries that mature to black. It’s both ornamental and practical—an ideal solution for those seeking instant screening or a smart, formal boundary.

🍃 Seasonal Interest & Growth

Spring:

• New foliage emerges in a fresh, bright green tone.

• Upright white flower spikes appear on mature, untrimmed plants.

Summer:

• Leaves deepen in colour, maintaining a full and glossy canopy.

• Flowers give way to red-black berries, attractive to birds.

Autumn & Winter:

• Maintains its dense evergreen structure and privacy year-round.

• Resistant to frost and wind when established.

📏 Structure & Form

• Height: Up to 5 m (pruned to desired height)

• Spread: 3–4 m

• Growth Rate: Fast – up to 60 cm per year

• Habit: Upright, bushy, dense foliage cover

• Foliage: Large, leathery, glossy green leaves

• Flowers/Berries: White flower spikes (spring); small red-black berries (autumn)

🌱 Growing Conditions & Care

• Position: Sun or full shade – very tolerant

• Soil: Any well-drained soil, including clay and chalk

• Hardiness: RHS H5 – Hardy to –15 °C

• Pruning:

  • Best trimmed in late spring or early autumn

  • Can be cut hard to rejuvenate if needed

• Feeding: Mulch or general-purpose feed in spring for lush growth

• Watering: Regularly until established; drought tolerant afterward

🌟 Why Choose ‘Rotundifolia’ Cherry Laurel?

• Excellent for screening and privacy – fast, thick coverage

• Low maintenance – tolerates heavy pruning and urban conditions

• All-year foliage – evergreen, glossy leaves for winter structure

• Wildlife-friendly – provides shelter and berries for birds

• Versatile – works as hedging, backdrop, or shaped form

📐 Recommended Planting Distances

• Hedging:

  • For instant effect: 2 plants per metre (50 cm apart)

  • For slower fill-in: 1 plant per metre

• Spacing from boundaries: At least 45–60 cm from fences or walls