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Prunus laurocerasus 'IVORY'® Cherry laurel, common laurel, English laurel
Prunus
The genus Prunus is quite extensive and, above all, remarkably diverse – it includes around 350 different species, some of which you would hardly place in the same group at first glance. Its representatives occur from Asia through Europe and North Africa to North America. The genus comprises trees and shrubs valued mainly for their abundant and attractive flowering, as well as species with delicious edible fruits, and in this particular case an evergreen species whose persistent foliage becomes especially important during the dormant season, when most other woody plants are leafless. This species is known as cherry laurel (Prunus laurocerasus) and originates from regions around the Black Sea, the Caucasus, and northern Turkey, where it grows in submontane forests and on moist, shaded slopes. Its glossy, leathery leaves resemble those of true laurel, and this similarity that gave rise to its name – lauro‑cerasus, meaning “laurel cherry.” It reached Europe as early as the 16th century and, thanks to its frost hardiness, is today one of the most important evergreen woody plants even in Central European climate.
Cherry laurel was scientifically described in 1753 by Carl Linnaeus in his seminal work Species Plantarum, where it received its still accepted name Prunus laurocerasus. A later, now obsolete name, Laurocerasus officinalis, nevertheless points to a much older history of cultivation and use. A laurel‑like plant identified with cherry laurel is already mentioned by Theophrastus, Dioscorides and Pliny the Elder, who noted its unusual properties. From the leaves of cherry laurel, a distillate known as aqua laurocerasi was prepared and, when used with due caution, employed as a sedative – hence the Latin epithet officinalis, meaning medicinal. Historically and with documentary support, cherry laurel, its introduction, and its first cultivation in European gardens can be traced to the year 1576. This date fits well within the period of diplomatic missions between the Ottoman Empire and the Habsburgs, when seeds, cuttings, and young plants of previously unknown species were brought from Constantinople to Central Europe through networks associated with figures such as the imperial envoy David Ungnad (1530–1600) and the botanist Carolus Clusius (1526–1609). The transfer of newly discovered plants was regarded as a gift equal in value to gold, works of art, or archaeological finds, and represented an important expression of learning, prestige, and practical knowledge of the natural world.
Ivory cherry laurel was, in fact, a happy accident. It is a spontaneous mutation of the cultivar Caucasica and introduced in 2006 by Van Vliet New Plants at the international Plantarium trade fair in the Netherlands. At first glance it closely resembles its ancestor, but it carries one defining trait: the young leaves are strikingly marbled with white, in some cases so heavily that they look as if a painter had poured the last bucket of whitewash over them after finishing a country cottage. The leaves are evergreen, 10–12 cm long, narrowly ovate to elliptical in shape, and moderately glossy. The white variegation is most pronounced in full sun and appears mainly on the outer surface of the plant, while leaves inside the shrub and when the plant is grown in shade remain dark green, only occasionally highlighted white a few white veins. This is no disadvantage, however, since during spring growth, the inner green foliage provides a calm, contrasting backdrop for the newly emerging, brightly coloured shoots.
Ivory also blooms. The compound inflorescences are upright, the small white flowers are lilac‑scented, and they do not appear in profusion. After pollination, glossy black fruits develop, which are readily taken by birds. They are not poisonous; only the seeds in unripe, hard fruits contain trace amounts of the same substance found in bitter almonds and would have to be thoroughly crushed to cause discomfort. The shrub grows at a moderate rate of approximately 30–40 cm per year and forms upright and dense plants even without regular pruning. At maturity, it can reach around 3 m in height and about 2 m in spread. Thanks to its distinctive colouring, it works well as a striking evergreen specimen or can be incorporated into an evergreen hedge among shrubs of differing texture and colour.
Cherry laurels require moist but well‑drained soil, ideally acidic to neutral and rich in nutrients. They do not tolerate compacted, heavy clay, muddy, or permanently waterlogged soils. They are sensitive to lime in the soil, which most commonly manifests as chlorosis – the leaves lose their green colour and the vein pattern becomes pronounced. Similar symptoms may also occur in cases of nutrient deficiency. In both situations, the application of magnesium sulphate (Epsom salt), organic fertilisers, or adjustment of soil pH towards a more acidic reaction is beneficial. They tolerate pruning of any intensity and respond particularly well to rejuvenation pruning into old wood, from which they readily regenerate. The best time for pruning is in spring after the risk of frost has passed; shaping cuts are carried out in mid‑summer. Because they retain their leaves year‑round – even in winter – and continuously transpire water, they require an adequate supply of moisture. Until a sufficiently deep root system develops, it is advisable to water them at least once a month during dry winters to prevent dehydration and subsequent leaf scorch caused by strong winter sun. To retain moisture and protect against temperature fluctuations, year‑round mulching is strongly recommended. Ivory has proved hardy to min. -25 °C (USDA zone 5b).
Last update 01-01-2009, 13-01-2012; 03-01-2025
