Prunus laurel Novita Pleached 8-10cm G 150cm Stem, 120cm H x 120cm W Frame Root Ball Delivery November

Cherry Laurel 'Novita' (Prunus laurocerasus 'Novita') – A Superior Evergreen Laurel for Hedging, Screening & Year-Round Structure

Prunus laurocerasus 'Novita' is a particularly fine selection of the much-loved Cherry Laurel, prized for its bold, glossy foliage, strong upright habit, and reliable all-season performance. Producing large, rich green leaves that are notably broader and more lustrous than many other cultivars, 'Novita' delivers dense, attractive coverage that makes it one of the most effective evergreen screening plants available. Whether planted as a formal clipped hedge, an informal privacy screen, or a substantial structural shrub, it performs with consistent vigour and dependability.

Faster-growing and more uniform in habit than the straight species, 'Novita' has earned a strong reputation among landscapers and gardeners alike for its ability to establish quickly and fill a space with confidence. In spring it produces erect spikes of small, sweetly scented white flowers, followed in autumn by dark, cherry-like fruits that provide a valuable food source for birds. Hardy, adaptable, and remarkably low-maintenance, this is an excellent all-round choice for gardens of every size and style.

Key Features

• Vigorous, upright evergreen with exceptionally large, bold, glossy green leaves

• Outstanding performance as a formal hedge, privacy screen, or structural specimen

• Fragrant white flower spikes in spring, followed by wildlife-friendly dark fruits in autumn

• Highly tolerant of shade, urban pollution, exposed positions, and a wide range of soils

• More uniform and upright in habit than the species — well-suited to formal planting schemes

• Fully hardy and fast to establish — one of the most reliable evergreen hedging plants available

Growing Conditions

Position: Prunus laurocerasus 'Novita' is highly adaptable when it comes to light levels, performing well in full sun, partial shade, or even deep shade. This makes it one of very few vigorous evergreens capable of thriving beneath a tree canopy, on a north-facing boundary, or in other challenging low-light situations where alternatives often fail.

Soil: Tolerant of a wide range of soil types, including clay, chalk, loam, and sandy soils, provided they are reasonably well-drained. 'Novita' prefers a moist, fertile growing medium but copes well in drier conditions once properly established. Permanently waterlogged or poorly drained ground should be avoided, as this can lead to root problems over time.

Hardiness: Fully hardy throughout the UK and across most of Northern Europe, withstanding hard frosts without significant damage. It is also notably tolerant of urban pollution and exposed coastal or windy positions, making it a dependable choice in a broad range of garden environments.

Habit & Appearance

Foliage: The leaves are large, leathery, and a deep, lustrous green — among the most striking of any hardy evergreen shrub. 'Novita' is particularly noted for the exceptional size and gloss of its foliage, which gives planted hedges and screens a bold, impressive presence throughout the year. Fresh new growth flushes bright lime-green in spring before maturing to a rich, deep tone, adding a pleasing seasonal contrast.

Flowers & Fruit: Erect racemes of small, sweetly scented white flowers appear in mid to late spring, providing an attractive and often-overlooked floral display. These are followed in autumn by clusters of small, dark purple-black fruits — highly attractive to birds and other garden wildlife, and a pleasing seasonal feature in their own right.

Ultimate Size: Left unpruned, 'Novita' will develop into a large, upright shrub reaching 4–6m or more in height, with a notably more columnar and tidy habit than many other Cherry Laurel selections. Growth is vigorous — typically 30–60cm per year in good conditions — making it one of the faster options for establishing a new hedge or screen. With regular pruning it is easily maintained at any desired height.

Care & Pruning

Watering: Water regularly throughout the first growing season to encourage a strong, well-developed root system. Once established, 'Novita' is notably drought-tolerant and largely self-sufficient under typical UK rainfall conditions. During extended dry spells, newly planted specimens will benefit from supplementary watering until fully settled.

Feeding: Apply a balanced general-purpose fertiliser in early spring to promote strong, healthy growth, particularly in poorer or leaner soils. An annual mulch of well-rotted organic matter around the base helps retain moisture, suppress weeds, and gradually improve soil fertility over time.

Pruning: For use as a formal hedge or clipped screen, trim once or twice a year — ideally in late spring after flowering and again in late summer if a tighter finish is required. Where possible, use sharp secateurs rather than shears to avoid cutting through the large leaves, which can result in unsightly browning at the cut edges. When grown as a free-standing specimen shrub, very little intervention is needed — simply remove any dead, damaged, or crossing branches in late spring to keep the framework healthy and open.

Pests & Disease: Generally robust and trouble-free. Occasionally susceptible to