Types of Laurel Shrubs

Bay leaves come from the Laurus nobilis tree.

Dense evergreen growth is a hallmark of shrubs in the laurel family. They grow quickly, take pruning and shearing nicely and provide a glossy, deep green background to other plants in the garden, making them a top choice for hedges.

English Laurel

English laurel (Prunus laurocerasus) is the most common type used for hedging in the U.S. It sports rounded, leathery leaves and white blooms that are held above the foliage like candles. The flowers are followed by black fruits, edible but not tasty. Fast-growing English laurel reaches 20 feet if not pruned regularly. Two popular cultivars are Schipka laurel (Prunus l.'Schipkaensis'), a columnar plant that grows to 10 feet and dwarf laurel (Prunus l. 'Otto Luyken'), which has a spreading habit, 4 feet tall by 6 feet wide.

Portuguese Laurel

Portuguese laurel (Prunus lusitanica) boasts red stems and glossy leaves that emerge with a red tint. It grows to 20 feet if not pruned, but is more upright and narrower than English laurel. White flowers in summer are followed by black fruit, which is not edible.

Bay Laurel

Bay laurel (Laurus nobilis) is the source of culinary bay leaves. More treelike in form, it grows slowly to 15 feet tall. A USDA zone 7 plant, it is not as hardy as the other laurels and requires full sun.

Other Laurels

Several other plants share the common name of laurel. They include mountain laurel (Kalmia latifolia), spotted laurel (Aucuba japonica) and California laurel (Umbellularia californica). Beautiful evergreen shrubs, these also produce flowers and berries. Kalmias and aucubas take more shade than the others.

References

• Nursery Trees: Laurel Hedges
• Oregon State Univeristy: Landscape Plants: Prunus Laurocerasus