How to identify Cherry laurel (Prunus laurocerasus)
Cherry laurel, also known as Versailles Laurel, Common laurel
Cherry laurel presents as an upright, evergreen shrub or small tree, boasting glossy green, coriaceous (leather-like) leaves that are elliptic-oblong in shape. Its foliage measures up to 20 feet (6 meters) in height and spans up to 10 feet (3 meters) wide. The leaves, when crushed, emit a cherry-like fragrance and are notable for the semi-circular stipular scars at their base. On the underside of the leaf blade, near the midrib, one can find 2 to 8 small glands. Cherry laurel features axillary racemes, which are flower clusters with a main axis and paired flowers.
Lifespan: Perennial
Plant Type: Shrub
Leaf Type: Evergreen
Coriaceous leaves emit cherry fragrance when crushed.
Distinctive purple-black, globose-ovoid drupe fruits under 1 inch (2.54 cm).
Axillary racemes with white, fragrant flowers boasting 20 stamens.
Upright, evergreen shrub with glossy, elliptic-oblong leaves up to 10 inches (25 cm) wide.
Woody stem with pale to brown pith, emitting cherry scent when bruised.
The leaves of cherry laurel are alternate, simple, and coriaceous, measuring up to 10 inches (25 cm) long and 5 inches (12 cm) wide. They are oblong to elliptic, acuminate, and range from cuneate to rounded at the base. The margins are serrate to nearly entire, with a lustrous medium to dark green surface above. Notably, the leaves feature 2-8 conspicuous glands on the underside near the base and next to the midrib.
The flowers of cherry laurel are white, fragrant, and less than an inch (2.5 cm) in size. Each flower boasts 20 stamens and is arranged in a dense, cylindrical raceme that can grow up to 4 inches (10 cm) long. The inflorescence is axillary, arising from nodes along the stem. These flowers typically bloom in the spring, adding a pleasant scent to their surroundings.
The stem of cherry laurel is green, transitioning to a more woody texture with age. When bruised, it emits a distinct cherry odor. The pith inside is pale to brown and continuous, crucial for identification. Stems also feature semi-circular stipular scars at the base where leaves attach. Twigs are relatively slender, typically about 1/4 inch (6 mm) in diameter, and exhibit a branching pattern that is alternately arranged.
The fruit of cherry laurel is a distinctive globose-ovoid shape, resembling a small berry-like drupe. Each fruit typically measures less than an inch (2.54 cm) in size, making it a petite addition to the plant. At maturity, the fruits take on a rich purple-black hue, which can make them quite noticeable against the foliage. Their skin is smooth, and they encapsulate a single hard seed, characteristic of drupes. These fruits are not only identifiable by their unique color and form but also by their typical drupe structure.
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Scientific Classification of Cherry laurel
