Prunus laurocerasus Novita- Cherry Laurel

The Prunus laurocerasus 'Novita' is one of the best cherry laurels for harsh climates. This new variety of the widely planted cherry laurel 'Rotundifolia', has the same vigour as its parent, a more robust foliage and is very ornamental with its light green color and glossy finish. Large, compact and dense, attractive all year round, fast growing, tolerant of pruning this shrub is perfect for creating evergreen hedges that work well both as a screen and a windbreak. If left unpruned, it is adorned in spring with fluffy panicles of attractive creamy white, slightly fragrant flowers. 

Native to southeastern Europe and Asia Minor, indigenous to Iran, the Caucasus and Turkey, the Cherry Laurel, sometimes called Trabzon laurel, Almond laurel or Palm laurel, is an evergreen bush of the Rosaceae family. The 'Novita' cultivar was selected in Italy, around the 2000s, for its resistance to the cold and disease. It is both upright and bushy, rounded and well-branched at the base. At maturity, it will reach about 4m (13.1 ft) in height and 3m (9.8 ft) in width, if its lateral growth is not hindered. Its foliage is composed of large, leathery, glossy green leaves, the depth of colour varying on the nature of the soil; in chalky soil, it will lean towards light green, in acidic soil, towards dark green. The leaf blade is shiny on the top, lighter and matt on the underside and very decorative. The young shoots of a bright acid green develop into oval and elongated leaves, 15 to 18 cm (7.1 in) long and 5 cm (2 in) wide. In April-May, upright clusters of 10 to 12 cm (4.7 in) appear at the end of the shoots. They are covered with tiny white flowers which are slightly fragrant and attractive to bees. In summer they give way to small ovoid fruits initially green then red, turning black when ripe, inedible but sought after by birds that spread the seeds.

Attention: The leaves, and all parts of the cherry laurel are toxic when ingested, except for the pulp of the fruit (the seed is toxic). They contain prussic acid (hydrocyanic acid), associated with an aromatic substance called benzaldehyde, with a bitter almond scent. A principle that is also found in the almonds of apricot and peach kernels. 

It is perfect for trimmed hedges, low or high. In a low hedge, it gives good privacy; in a high hedge, it forms an excellent windbreak and sound insulator. For planting in a hedge, make sure to space each plant 80 cm (2.6 ft) to 1 m (3.3 ft) apart. However, this 'Novita' laurel deserves better than repeated pruning which destroys its foliage and suppresses its lovely flowers: it looks good in an informal hedge, mixed with other evergreens (Elaeagnus ebbingei, Viburnum tinus, Rhamnus alaternus, Arbutus unedo, Photinia, Taxus (x) media, Pyracantha, holly...), or in a shrubbery. If the fruits develop to maturity, they will produce many young plants inside or outside the garden.