The shrub is tall, sometimes reaching the size of a tree. The genus is plum, its homeland is America, where this plant is widespread. Also grows well in warm climates. All parts of the plant are poisonous except the fruit. The fruits can be eaten. All parts of the plant contain the toxic substance amygdalin, and the seeds contain hydrocyanic acid. The aroma of cherry laurel during flowering is reminiscent of bird cherry, but you should not be afraid of the smell, since the flowers are not poisonous. The plant secretes poisonous juice if it is wounded or the leaves are rubbed between the fingers. After holding the cherry laurel leaves in your palms, you should wash your hands several times with soap and try not to touch your face with your fingers or rub your eyes.
Laurel cherry. Description
An adult plant reaches a height of up to 10 m. The leaves are beautiful, similar to a laurel tree, glossy, dark in color. The fruits are edible, but the seeds are very poisonous. They, as well as the leaves and bark, contain poison - amygdalin.
The flowering period is the second half of spring, but everything will depend on the climate in which this plant is grown.
The flowers are white or ivory, collected in pretty tassels, reaching a length of 10-12 cm. The tassels, as well as the aroma during flowering, resemble bird cherry tassels. When ripe, the fruits become bright red in color. They look like cherries or sweet cherries, but it all depends on the variety. The taste is pleasant, and if salted in brine, they can even replace olives.
Wild form of cherry laurel - the fruits differ in appearance and taste, they are slightly bitter and have an astringent effect, but they can be eaten and they are even healthy. They make delicious liqueurs and wine from the fruits of wild cherry laurel.
Cherry laurel is also known for its healing properties; in medicine, the fruits and leaves of the plant are used to obtain healing oil, tincture, and water. The plant helps get rid of anxiety, improves sleep, and improves the functioning of the heart muscle. The plant is also used as an immunomodulator, which is why the “laurel cherry medicinal” variety is popular in Russia; an alcohol tincture is made from the fruits of this variety.
Cherry laurel varieties
In nature, there are about 400 or even more varieties of this plant; there are not many popular ones that can be grown in central Russia.
Cherry laurel varieties:
- variety "Rotunfolia" is an evergreen shrub, low, up to 4 m, vertical. The crown width is no more than 2.5 m. The leaves are large, long, about 15 cm, wide. Flowering should be expected at the beginning of the last spring month. The flowers are white. It loves the sun, so before planting you need to choose a well-lit area. Grows on rocky and dry soil, as well as sandy soil;
- back in 1930, the Herbergeri variety, brought from a nursery in Southern Europe, was first introduced for sale. This variety does not grow as fast as the others, but it is also evergreen, reaching up to 3 or 4 m in height. Flowering should be expected in mid-May, the flowers are of the correct shape, the fruits are more similar in shape to an egg. The plant also loves the sun and a lot of light, but can easily tolerate partial shade and cope with drought and heat. Feels good on sandy soils, as well as light ones. In terms of pruning, cherry laurel is unpretentious and tolerates even heavy pruning. In winter, this variety does not require shelter and tolerates windy and frosty winters;
- cherry laurel variety "Mount Vernon", a compact and flat bush, will fit even in a small area, as the shoots spread densely. It reaches a height of no more than half a meter, grows 1-1.5 m in width. The leaves are of a slightly different shape, with teeth at the edges, the length of the leaf is about 8 cm. Cherry laurel of this variety likes to have a lot of light and fertile soil, but also on sandy You will also feel good. This shrub will have to be covered for the winter;
- “Portuguese” cherry laurel - outwardly looks more like a small compact tree than a shrub. It grows very slowly, but the leaves have a beautiful color and regular shape. Blooms later, in the middle of the first summer month. The flowers are small, beautiful, the fruits are dark, like cherries, densely covering the branches, which gives the impression that the bush has dressed up;
- cherry laurel variety “Lusitanian”, the largest shrub, as it grows up to 6 m in height. It does not tolerate dampness, so it will not be able to fully develop in damp soil and may even die. But it tolerates cold well (needs to be covered), loves a lot of light;
- “Caucasian” variety is decorative, with beautiful elongated leaves the color of young greenery;
- “Shipkensis” is a beautiful, dwarf variety, ideal for growing in large flowerpots and containers;
- another compact size cherry laurel variety “Otto Luyken”, also grown in flowerpots, resistant to pests and diseases;
- medicinal cherry laurel is the most popular variety of shrub. It grows up to a maximum of 3 m in height and tolerates fluctuations in temperature and cold very well. It grows quickly, but if the soil is dry, growth slows down. It loves loamy and calcareous soils, as well as fertile soils, but on sandy loam soils it will also delight with flowering and a good harvest.
Laurel cherry. Photo:
Planting cherry laurel
The cherry laurel plant is unpretentious to grow; some gardeners say that even the lazy can grow cherry laurel on their plot. Plant the plant in open ground, choosing a place well lit by the sun. Depending on the variety, more or less space will be required, and some varieties can be grown on a balcony or in a greenhouse. To do this, you will need a special spacious container or large flowerpot.
You can start growing shrubs even at home, and when the plant takes root, then plant it in a permanent place.
Features of cultivation:
- planting time: early spring or late autumn;
- Soil requirements: fertile, light. But if this is not possible, even slightly alkaline and limestone will do, but you just need good drainage and fertilizing;
- what cherry laurel loves: organic matter and mineral fertilizers a little at a time, literally 6 kg per square meter;
- if you grow shrubs in a container, then you need to purchase a ready-made substrate or make a mixture yourself from fertile soil and peat;
- when grown in a flowerpot, the root system does not grow much, so cherry laurel does not require replanting. But it is advisable to renew the top layer of soil;
- cherry laurel care is kept to a minimum, since the plant is unpretentious. When watering, it is allowed to add 30 g of complex fertilizer to a bucket of water. Water - during transplantation (if necessary) and during drought;
- You will need to trim off excess branches regularly. This should be done at the end of winter, and if the goal is to create a green hedge, then pruning should be done at the end of August.
Pests and diseases of cherry laurel
The most important problem of cherry laurel is powdery growth. The disease quickly spreads over the leaves, droplets or dark spots appear on them. Getting rid of the disease is as easy as shelling pears; you need to use any fungicide or treat the plant with preparations containing sulfur.
Due to excess nitrogen (when fertilizing or fertilizing the soil), the plant ceases to withstand cold weather.
Pests do not attack this plant because of its poisonous properties, but blackbirds and other birds are not averse to eating delicious ripe berries, similar to cherries.
Cherry laurel propagation
You can try to propagate cherry laurel by seeds collected immediately. This is the only condition that must be observed, since they are not stored for long due to low germination. The collected seeds/seeds should be placed in a container with warm water and left for 8 hours. Then remove it and plant it in a small tray with moistened soil, deepen it no more than 1 cm. Then you need to cover the container with film and put it in the refrigerator on the bottom shelf, leave for 2 or even 3 months. Afterwards, remove it and place it in the germination room. The optimal temperature for germination is not less than 18 degrees, but not more than +28.
This method cannot be called quick, so gardeners have gotten used to propagating medicinal shrubs in another way, this is the propagation of cherry laurel by cuttings.
Work order:
- Take a cutting and separate the shoots to make 10 or 12 cm pieces.
- The leaves should be left only at the top, maybe up to half, and the rest should be removed.
- The cuttings need to be inserted into a nutrient mixture consisting of humus and sand to a depth of 3 cm, covered with a loose, translucent bag.
- Rooting - at a temperature of 22 to 24 degrees with a “+” sign.
- You can place the cuttings in a container of water.
It is more difficult to propagate cherry laurel using green cuttings, since planting material must be taken in June and propagation must begin immediately.
It is much easier to propagate shrubs by layering.
Reproduction options:
- arcuate layering;
- horizontal layering;
- vertical layering.
The first option is familiar to many (currants are bred in a similar way), but the second propagation option is worth considering in detail.
With the onset of spring or at the end of autumn, you need to cut off the entire bush, leaving only a short stump (3 cm). Young shoots will grow on these stumps. They need to be thinned out and hilled up, leaving the crown. Watering is an obligatory part of care during the growing season, as well as additional planting. After the shoots take root, the cherry laurel seedlings can be opened and separated to be transplanted to a permanent location.
Ready-made seedlings can be purchased at a specialized store. Choose healthy planting material so that the roots are elastic and not dry, about 30 cm long (not shorter), without swelling and growths.
What are the benefits of cherry laurel?
It has already become known that the leaves and all parts of the plant, except the fruits, are poisonous. Therefore, only the fruits are edible. But they taste sweet and tart, so they are used more often in wine and chilled drinks.
Despite the toxicity and content of poison in the leaves - amygdalin, they contain essential oil in sufficient quantities.
Benefits of the plant:
- the leaves can be used industrially to give dairy products a pleasant almond aroma;
- from fresh leaves, by distillation, an aromatic water or extract is obtained, which is used as a sedative;
- The dried leaves, combined with other aromatic medicinal herbs, are stuffed into a pillow to relieve insomnia. You can sleep on such a pillow for no more than 3 hours, and if you suffer from headaches, then from 3 to 5 hours;
- the leaves contain tannids, which are an anti-inflammatory agent;
- in modern medicine, the leaves are used to prepare sedatives and relieve pain and stomach cramps;
- and an aqueous tincture of the seeds is used to combat boils and baldness.
The leaves, despite their strong resemblance to laurel, should under no circumstances be added to food, as this can lead to severe poisoning. Although the leaves are used to make medicines and are used in the production of alcoholic beverages, at home it is better not to take risks and not to make anything from cherry laurel yourself.
Traditional recipes:
- Take ripe fruit seeds, chop them, add sugar (the same amount). Use a teaspoon three times a day after meals for insomnia, problems with the functioning of the stomach and intestines.
- If you are worried about pain in the intestines and stomach, then take 2 tablespoons of leaf powder (crushed), pour in 0.5 liters of boiled water (hot), leave for 15 minutes, then strain and take 2 tablespoons (strictly!).
- How to get rid of headaches and insomnia: grind the fruit seeds into powder, take a teaspoon, immediately washed down with raw milk.
- Some housewives make jam from ripe cherry laurel fruits, adding figs or lemons, and make syrup to add to dough or cream. This product is healthy and tasty.
Cherry laurel (Laurocerasus) belongs to the Prunus species, rose family (Rosaceae). Depending on the climatic zone, cherry laurel grows differently, for example, in the south it is an evergreen plant; in the rest of the country, cherry laurel sheds all its leaves for the winter.
Under natural conditions, a tall tree grows (up to 6 m), densely covered with large leaves, glossy on top and hard to the touch. Cherry laurel blooms in early May.
You should be quite careful with this plant, since all parts, with the exception of the fruits, are poisonous.
There is a wide variety of varieties, for example, Caucasian, Round-leaved, etc. Among the wide variety of species, the following three are most often distinguished: Portuguese cherry laurel, Lusitanian cherry laurel, and medicinal cherry laurel. Portuguese cherry laurel is a large shrub, most often a small tree. Lusitanian cherry laurel is a large shrub that, with sufficient good care, reaches 5 m in height. Cherry laurel is a shrub or tree not exceeding 3 m in height, but can withstand frosts down to – 25°C.
Cherry laurel: care and cultivation.
Growing.
Care measures and cultivation of cherry laurel of various varieties and species are basically similar. Cherry laurel is most often grown in open ground, or in containers on a balcony or terrace. Planted in the soil in October or early spring, it should be dense and moist. However, depending on the type there are some characteristics. Portuguese cherry laurel prefers fresh, well-drained soil that does not contain lime, while medicinal cherry can grow on calcareous, slightly alkaline soil. The plant is also quite resistant to temperature fluctuations.
Cherry laurel can grow not only in partial shade, but also in bright light. During cultivation, cherry laurel tolerates pruning well, which is why it can be given any shape. This pruning is mainly carried out at the end of winter, but in addition, to maintain a neat appearance of the hedge, it is repeated in August.
Cherry laurel is a controversial plant for cultivation in central Russia, since only one species of it has difficulty surviving - cherry laurel.
For this reason, in the conditions of central Russia, all cherry laurel trees are low-growing shrubs that constantly freeze out, and therefore do not exceed 1 meter in height.
The cherry laurel bush freezes mainly due to the lack of snow cover, and in winters without snow it has no chance of surviving at all. To save the bush from freezing in winter, the cherry laurel needs to be bent to the ground at the end of autumn, still at above-zero temperatures, and covered with spruce branches.
Reproduction.
Cherry laurel propagates by green cuttings, seeds and layering.
Seeds must be sown after the fruits ripen, since their germination rate drops sharply during storage.
Reproduction by layering is carried out in three ways: arcuate, horizontal and vertical. The latter is as follows: in late autumn or early spring, the cherry laurel bush is cut off almost completely, leaving stems up to 3 cm tall. Green shoots appear on them, which should be thinned out. And when the length of the new shoots reaches 0.20 m, they are hilled up and watered well. When the shoots give roots, they are separated from the mother plant and planted in a new place.
Propagation by green cuttings is the most difficult method. In June, shoots that have not yet lignified are cut off and divided into cuttings of 0.10 - 0.12 m each, all leaves (except the top) are removed. Planted in a greenhouse, where the soil should consist of drainage, humus and river sand.
As already mentioned, common cherry laurel can be grown as a hedge or in group plantings. It tolerates shearing well, and the fruits are eaten both fresh and dried.
Care.
I repeat that maintenance work is carried out at the end of winter (pruning) and in August, if cherry laurel is grown as a hedge.
As measures for caring for cherry laurel, one should name the usual treatment of it with sulfur-based preparations to get rid of powdery mildew. And the same measures for caring for a tree include maintaining the soil in a slightly moist state and regularly applying humus and fertilizers (5-7 kg per 1 sq. m.).
Caroline
Noble fragrant laurel is very often confused with medicinal cherry laurel. Indeed, they are similar in the shape of leaves and bushes, but they are completely different plants.
Please do not confuse
Cherry laurel is common in Asia Minor and Transcaucasia; it is less whimsical than laurel. Therefore, traders in southern resorts sometimes deceive tourists by selling medicinal cherry laurel instead of laurel seedlings. But this is easy to check. Rub one leaf between your fingers, and if you don’t feel the familiar aroma of the spice, then you definitely don’t have laurel in your hands.
About cherry laurel culture
Cherry laurel bushes and trees grow up to 8 m. The plant takes root easily by cuttings and quickly grows from seeds. At the end of April and beginning of May, the bush is covered with fragrant inflorescences-tassels up to 12 cm long. The flowers in them are small, cream-colored with orange centers. The leaves are large - up to 15-20 cm in length.
They cannot be added to dishes, because they contain poison - hydrocyanic acid. Medicines are industrially made from cherry laurel leaves (hence its name) and used in alcoholic beverage production. However, you should not experiment with the plant at home.
Cherry laurel fruiting
At the end of July and beginning of August, red fruits ripen, which gradually become dark purple or even black. They look like cherries, up to 1.5 cm in diameter. Inside are round bones that also contain hydrocyanic acid. But there are no toxic substances in the pulp, and it is quite edible.
Most often, sweet-fruited varieties are cultivated, but there are trees with bitter fruits. The “sweet” types taste cloying with almond notes.
They are practically not eaten fresh, but are more often used to make compotes, jams, syrups and wines, having previously been separated from the seeds. Also, dried cherry laurel fruits are well stored almost all winter.
Growing cherry laurel in the Middle Zone
Since cherry laurel is a heat-loving crop (does not tolerate frosts below -18°), it is grown very rarely in open ground in central Russia. Basically, the plant is kept in greenhouses, on glazed balconies, and in rooms. In summer, a tree in a pot can be placed in the garden under the tree crowns.
Cherry laurel is propagated by seeds, cuttings, root suckers or layering.
For the garden, it is best to purchase a plant taller than 70 cm. In nurseries you can find seedlings brought from Europe. They are more frost-resistant than southern plants, but in open ground during our harsh winters they need good shelter.
Cherry laurel propagation
Buy seeds collected this year, as they have a short germination period. Soak the seeds in warm water for a day, then plant the seeds in a container with moist soil, deepening them 1 cm.
Cover the crops with film and place in the refrigerator for 2-3 months. Then move the container into the room and germinate the seeds at a temperature of 18-28°.
If one of your friends already has cherry laurel, you can ask them for cuttings. Divide the shoots into 10-12 cm segments. Leave only the top leaves, shortened to half, and remove the rest. Stick the cuttings 2-3 cm into the mixture of humus and sand, water and cover with a transparent bag. Root at a temperature of 22-24°.
Cherry laurel: care
Mix the soil for cherry laurel from turf, garden soil, humus, sand and ash (2:2:4:2:1). In summer, fertilize once a month with complex fertilizers. During the first 5 years, replant the plant annually into a larger pot, and then it is enough to “relocate” it once every 3-4 years. Form a bush up to 1.5 m high. Do pruning at the end of summer. Pests rarely attack cherry laurel.
Water the crop moderately. In winter, 2-3 times a month will be enough. Place the plant in a cool place with a temperature of about 5°. With good care, cherry laurel seedlings begin to bloom and bear fruit profusely after about 4 years.
Alina Petryakova, Nizhny Novgorod
Cherry laurel belongs to a truly huge genus Prunus, which has over 400 species and includes a wide variety of plants. This plant itself is evergreen in the south, in our country it is a deciduous tree, all parts of which, with the exception of the fruits, are poisonous. In nature (natural conditions) it is a rather tall tree, often reaching a height of six meters and densely covered with large leaves, glossy on the upper side and hard to the touch, with smooth edges of a rich dark green color.
Cherry laurel blooms early, in early May, and pleases the eye with small white flowers, which are collected in dense apical clusters, sometimes stretching up to 12 centimeters. This plant is widespread in the Caucasus, Eurasia, North America and the Antilles, where it rises to an altitude of 1700 meters above sea level.
Types and varieties of cherry laurel
Among the fairly large variety of cherry laurel species, the three most widely known are described below:
Portuguese cherry laurel- a fairly large shrub, more often a small tree. The plant is characterized by rather slow growth and has very beautiful ovoid pointed leaves with reddish petioles. It blooms quite late - in mid-June, and the flowers are very pretty! When ripe, the fruits acquire a blackish-purple color, and when unripe they are red and small, but in large quantities, which gives the plant an elegant appearance.
Cherry laurel lusitana- a large shrub, with proper care reaching a height of five meters, sometimes it is a taller tree. This species grows extremely slowly, especially on soils with a lack of moisture. It is very responsive to soil fertility and thrives in light and permeable soils, but in damp soils with excess moisture it grows poorly and often even dies. Lusitanian cherry laurel is much more thermophilic than other species and tolerates winter only when covered.
The advantages of this species are that it tolerates molding very well, often replacing molded laurel, both in open ground and in tub culture.
And, perhaps, the most famous species - - is a shrub or tree not exceeding three meters in height. This species is the fastest growing, shade-tolerant and winter-hardy, withstands temperatures down to -25°C. Cherry laurel, like many species, is demanding on soil moisture; Plants do not grow well in dry and sun-exposed conditions. But there are fewer requirements for the composition of the soil; almost everything is suitable: calcareous, humus-carbonate, loamy and even sandy loam. This species tolerates pruning very well and is especially decorative during flowering and when decorated with ripe fruits (in September). Cherry laurel has been cultivated for a long time in gardens and parks literally all over the world.
In addition to the species, there are quite a few varieties of cherry laurel, among them the varieties Caucasian, characterized by large, elongated, intensely green leaves and Round-leaved- with oval-shaped leaves and light green color with gloss. Varieties are ideal for growing in containers Shipkensis– with narrow leaves, an erect stem and abundant flowering and Otto Luyken- disease-resistant, dense and compact shrub with small, very shiny leaves and lush flowering.
So, you have become acquainted with the main types and varieties of cherry laurel, now you should say a few words about its cultivation, requirements for growing conditions, propagation technology and use.
Growing cherry laurel
Cherry laurel is usually cultivated either in open ground or in containers on balconies and terraces. Plants are planted in a permanent location in October or early spring, when the soil is moist and dense. Cherry laurel is a rather undemanding plant, but depending on the type it has its own characteristics, for example, Portuguese cherry laurel prefers deep, fresh and well-drained soil, not containing lime, and cherry laurel can grow even on slightly alkaline soil, calcareous and less deep.
Cherry laurel, of course, is an undemanding plant, but like most crops it is responsive to the application of organic fertilizers, the dosages are small - 5-7 kg/m?.
As mentioned above, cherry laurel feels great in. In this case, use a substrate that consists of peat and fertile soil in equal parts. The advantage of growing in containers is the ability to avoid such a complex procedure as replanting; you just need to replace the top, outdated layer of soil with a new, more fertile one. A positive effect is achieved by adding complex fertilizer in the amount of 30 grams per bucket to irrigation water and watering plants with this solution approximately once every 20-30 days. As for general watering, it should be carried out after transplanting into open ground and during periods of prolonged drought. When choosing a place for planting, everything here depends on the wishes of the gardener, since cherry laurel can grow both in open sun and in the shade. The plant is also quite resistant to fluctuations in air temperature. Of the mandatory maintenance work, only pruning should be highlighted, which must be carried out at the end of winter, and when cultivated as a hedge, even in August, to maintain a neat and tidy appearance.
Diseases and pests
The most common disease of cherry laurel is grape powdery mildew, which manifests itself in the form of powdery spots appearing on the leaves. Getting rid of this disease is quite simple; it is necessary to carry out the usual treatment with preparations based on sulfur or other similar fungicides. Amateur gardeners should remember that excess nitrogen fertilizers, especially at the end of summer, sharply reduce the cold resistance of plants! As for pests, they have not been noted on cherry laurel plants, with the exception of thrushes that adore its fruits.
Reproduction
Cherry laurel is easily propagated by seeds, green cuttings and layering. At propagation by seeds One should take into account the fact that the seeds must be sown immediately after the fruits ripen, since during storage their germination rate drops sharply; one might even say that the seeds are not stored at all. You can extend the life of the seeds a little by placing them in a humid environment. Seeds sown in moist soil in the fall germinate in the spring; it is better to transplant young plants immediately to a permanent place, since the root system of cherry laurel suffers greatly during transplantation.
Concerning propagation by layering, then the yield of planting material here is somewhat more modest than when sowing with seeds. This method is divided into three different options: arcuate layering, vertical and horizontal. As for propagation by arcuate layering, everything is done here in the same way as with currants; this method is very widespread and there is no point in describing it in detail. Reproduction by vertical layering is a completely different matter; few people know this method, so it is worth dwelling on it in more detail. It consists of the following: early in spring or late in autumn, the cherry laurel bush is completely cut off, leaving only stumps not exceeding three centimeters in height. Then green shoots grow on these stumps, which must be thinned out, leaving only the strongest. When the length of the shoots reaches twenty centimeters, they must be spudded, leaving only the very top and be sure to water them abundantly. During the entire growing season, the plants must be budded and watered, and in the fall, when the shoots take root, they must be unplanted and separated from the mother plant and planted in a new place.
Propagation by green cuttings- the most complex method, but if implemented correctly, standard planting material can be obtained already this year. Its essence is this: in June, shoots that have not yet lignified are cut off and divided into cuttings 10-12 centimeters long, all leaves except the apical ones are removed, and the cuttings themselves are planted in a greenhouse in a special soil mixture consisting of river (namely river) sand, humus and drainage , which is suitable for expanded clay. Expanded clay (or other drainage) is placed on the bottom of the bed in the greenhouse and covered on top with a mixture of humus and river sand. It is in this mixture that the cuttings are planted. They should be deepened no more than 2-3 centimeters. It should be noted that for full rhizogenesis (root formation), cuttings require timely watering. On farms, this is achieved using special installations with timers that supply water at a strictly defined time through spray nozzles, creating a “fog” effect in the greenhouse. At home, this effect can be achieved by building a low, small greenhouse and covering it with a film with a “shade” that practically does not allow the sun’s rays to pass through, without creating a “glass” effect. In hot weather, cuttings should be watered at least once every two to three hours. Rooted cuttings are carefully dug up in the fall and the cut is planted in well-prepared, loosened and fertilized soil in the garden for “growing.” Next fall, the seedlings are ready to be dug up and transplanted to a permanent location or for sale.
Application of cherry laurel
Common cherry laurel is widely used in group plantings. This plant looks great in the edges of large groups of tall evergreen trees, as an understory, and also in mass planting on slopes to strengthen the soil. Cherry laurel tolerates pruning very well and is used for curly shaping, and its fruits are used for food both fresh and dried. Cherry laurel water is prepared from fresh leaves and is used as a pain reliever.
Nikolay Khromov, Candidate of Agricultural Sciences, researcher, Department of Berry Crops, State Scientific Institution VNIIS named after. I.V. Michurina, member of the NIRR Academy
If you have seen or grown ornamental shrubs ficus and laurel, you will see that cherry laurel with its leaves and general appearance resembles something in between.
This beautiful evergreen shrub from the Rozanov family has many species and forms, differing in frost resistance, height, and variety of berries.
Cherry laurel thickets are located in the Western Caucasus, reaching up to two thousand meters above sea level.
Therefore, its frost resistance is not surprising, that is, it tolerates even thirty-degree frosts, which is why caring for cherry laurel in terms of frost tolerance is not difficult; my friends grow it successfully even in the Moscow region more than 5 years.
Naturally, in the highlands, cherry laurel has dwarf forms, but on the plains, in good open ground, it can reach a height of even 10 m.
Cherry laurel is used as an ornamental crop - it is beautiful, a fruit crop - sweet berries, an industrial crop - for the production of essential oils, in medicine, cosmetics, the food industry, leaves and bark - for tanning leather.
It must be borne in mind that in natural thickets of forests and mountains this plant is mainly ornamental; rare specimens bear fruit. In wild form, it is found in many parts of our planet: Japan, China, USA, Brazil and other countries.
But cherry laurel has long appeared in cultivated form because of its unusually tasty berries.
During flowering (April-May), this shrub emits a magnificent delicate aroma. Cherry laurel flowers are whitish, in tassels up to 20 cm long, enveloping the entire plant, like decorative candles, as if in front of you is a fairy-tale bride. Each white flower consists of a five-part calyx, a five-petalled corolla and many stamens.
A cluster of cherry laurel plants can contain up to three dozen berries. The berries are fleshy, small and large, oval and round (on average 2 cm in diameter), white, pink, orange, to dark red, depending on the variety.
The fruit is a one-seeded drupe, outwardly it looks amazing
And, like an ordinary cherry, the pit contains hydrocyanic acid, so when preparing jam and drinks, the fruits are pitted. The berries ripen by mid-summer, and the yield can reach 120 kg per tree (in open ground).
It must be borne in mind that cherry laurel fruits are not only pleasant to taste, but also have healing properties due to many biologically active substances. Juice with medicinal properties is obtained from the pulp of the fruit. They make jam, amazing liqueurs, and wine.
The pulp of the fruit contains iodine, glycosides and other biologically active substances, so they are recommended for those suffering from cardiovascular diseases, as well as for restoring strength.
Cherry laurel care
It is a rare case that almost no plant care is required.
Cherry laurel is also very shade-tolerant, there are no diseases or pests on it, anyone can grow it, any soil is suitable, I have seen cherry laurel trees that grow on almost bare stones, where nettle would have difficulty growing.
Cherry laurel is easy to grow indoors, creating beauty and not requiring special attention. Easily propagated by seeds, layering, and green cuttings.
But if you want not only to contemplate beauty, but also to have a good harvest of berries, you need to have cherry laurel seedlings from cuttings of cultivated forms or graft them onto wild ones, that is, grown from seeds.
This plant lends itself to any form: pruning, bending, creating a green wall, etc. It is perfect for forming hedges in a dacha.
I think that this plant deserves the attention of not only lovers of rare plants. It also has the highest score: beautiful, useful, not demanding on care and chemicals, drought-resistant, shade-tolerant, durable.
WHAT IS CHERRY LAUREL: VIDEO
GROWING CHERRY LAUREL - PLANTING AND CARE: REVIEWS AND ADVICE OF EXPERTS AND GARDENERS
WHAT IS THIS MIRACLE – CHERRY LAUREL?
The beautiful cherry laurel is great for creating a hedge or growing in a tub.
N. KHROMOV, candidate of agricultural sciences, Michurinsk, Tambov region.
This plant confuses many people. And no wonder! Its fruits are like those of a cherry, the tree itself looks like a bird cherry, and its leaves resemble a laurel familiar from childhood. Let's take a closer look at this diva!
NOT A TREE, BUT A BUSH
There is a strong, but not entirely correct, opinion that cherry laurel does not grow in our climate. This is not entirely true. Indeed, our cherry laurel tree will not be evergreen, densely covered with dark green leaves, but rather resembles a powerful shrub that sheds its leaves in the fall and does not bear fruit every year.
Cherry laurel lusitana easily tolerates shaping and can be grown in tubs.
The main risk when growing many varieties of cherry laurel is that its early flowering (in early May) is subject to frost. If the spring turns out to be warm, then by the end of summer you can see quite large fruits that can be confused with cherry or bird cherry fruits. The pulp of cherry laurel fruits is edible, tasty and healthy, but all other parts of the plant (including leaves) are poisonous!
In southern countries, the Caucasus, Eurasia, North America, and the Antilles, cherry laurel is the most common plant (like poplar for us, for example). Its love of life and unpretentiousness are amazing - sometimes it climbs to a height of up to 1700 m above sea level, where it grows right on the rocks, reaching a height of 5-6 meters.
Among the wide variety of cherry laurel species (about 400), you can choose those that will grow well in our areas. Let's talk about three popular and relatively unpretentious types.
CHERRY LAUREL LUSITANIA
This is a fairly tall tree (up to 5 m and even higher). On poor soil it grows slowly, but on fertile, light, permeable soils it grows quickly and produces an impressive harvest.
When planting Lusitanian cherry laurel plants, avoid damp areas, especially those where water has stagnated for a long time. Cherry laurel loves warmth, so in the garden you should choose the most illuminated places for it, preferably on the south side of residential buildings, where the temperature is always higher.
In winter, the lower part of the trunk above the snow cover, right up to the crown, should be wrapped in non-woven material, for example, lutrasil.
PORTUGUESE CHERRY LAUR
This species is also widespread in gardens. In regions with a harsh climate it is a shrub, or less often a small tree. Portuguese cherry laurel is not characterized by rapid growth, but it has the most gorgeous ovoid leaves, slightly pointed at the top, with bright scarlet petioles.
The first flowers appear in mid-June, which allows for stable harvests. The flowers are among the largest of the cherry laurel species.
The fruits ripen in autumn. When fully mature, they are blackish-purple in color. This species produces very large harvests - the entire tree is literally strewn with berries.
CHERRY LAUREL MEDICINAL
A typical shrub, reaching a height of 2.5-3 m. Interestingly, the taste of cherry laurel fruits grown on humus-carbonate soils is better than that of cherry laurel from loamy soils.
The species tolerates shearing well, is relatively resistant to urban conditions, and only does not tolerate heavy dust. Therefore, the crown of the plant must be periodically washed under running water.
CHERRY LAUREL: PLANTING
Cherry laurel is usually grown in open ground, but it can also be planted in a container. In this case, the plant is placed on open terraces or balconies in the summer, and brought back indoors for the winter.
Planting is done in the fall (October) or spring, while the soil is moist and loose.
On the site, it feels good both in an open, sunny place and in the shade - the main thing is that there is reliable protection from the northern winds (for example, the wall of a house or a solid fence).
CHERRY LAUREL: CARE
Further care consists of pruning, which is usually carried out at the end of February when cultivating cherry laurel as single plantings and in August when cultivating as a hedge.
