Prunus laurocerasus 'Otto Luyken'

Cherry laurel, Prunus laurocerasus, is a dense, evergreen shrub with shiny and dark green leaves. In spring it bears upright, white flowers, followed by fruits in autumn that resemble cherries. These turn from red to black as they mature. The flowers are popular with bees and other pollinators, and birds eat the berries. Prunus laurocerasus has a reputation for being invasive in the UK and can become a thug in the garden.

Prunus laurocerasus ‘Otto Luyken’ is also known as 'compact laurel' as it only reaches a height and spread of 1m x 1.5m – it grows wider than it does high. It's typically used to create a low, dense, evergreen hedge or low maintenance ground cover. It has the prestigious RHS Award of Garden Merit (AGM).

Prunus laurocerasus 'Otto Luyken' is a low maintenance plant, suitable for growing in a range of soils and situations – ideally, grow it in moist but well-drained soil, in sun or partial shade. It doesn't need pruning, but you could trim established plants in late spring or early summer to keep them looking tidy. It's a relatively slow grower, putting on 10-20cm of growth a year.