Types of Laurel Bushes and Their Benefits

When choosing plants for hedging and screening, understanding the different types of laurel bushes can help you make the best decision for your garden or property. Laurels are among the most popular hedging plants available, offering fast growth, year-round coverage, and the ability to create dense screens that block unwanted views, reduce noise, and provide privacy.

While there are several plants commonly referred to as "laurel", Cherry Laurel (Prunus laurocerasus) and Portuguese Laurel (Prunus lusitanica) are the two most popular choices for evergreen hedging in the UK. Within each species, you'll also find different cultivars with slightly different growth habits, leaf shapes and sizes, making it easier to choose the right laurel bush for your garden.

Why Choose Laurel Bushes for Your Garden?

Laurel bushes have become one of the UK's most popular hedging plants, and for good reason. Their evergreen foliage provides year-round privacy, while their vigorous growth creates dense, attractive boundaries that can help screen unwanted views, reduce noise and provide shelter for wildlife. With several varieties available, there's a laurel hedge to suit everything from large garden borders to smaller, more formal spaces.

Choosing the right laurel variety depends on your garden, available space and the type of hedge you want to create. Understanding the benefits and considerations of laurel bushes can help you select the best option for your needs.

Pros of Laurel Bushes

• Evergreen foliage provides year-round privacy and screening.
• Fast-growing varieties, such as Cherry Laurel, establish dense hedges quickly.
• Suitable for a wide range of soil types and growing conditions across the UK.
• Respond well to pruning, making them ideal for both formal and informal hedges.
• Can help reduce noise, provide shelter for birds and wildlife, and create attractive garden boundaries.
• Long-lasting and relatively low maintenance once established.

Things to Consider

• Fast-growing varieties benefit from regular pruning to maintain their shape and size.
• Most laurels prefer well-drained soil and may struggle in waterlogged conditions.
• Some varieties can become quite large if left unmanaged, so it's important to choose the right laurel for your available space.
• The leaves and berries of many laurel species are toxic if eaten, so care should be taken where pets or young children are present.

Types of Laurel Bushes

Cherry Laurel (Prunus laurocerasus)

Best for: Quick screening, large hedges and situations where rapid growth is important.

Cherry laurel, commonly referred to as "laurel" or "common laurel," is the variety most people think of when they picture a laurel hedge. This hardy plant features large, glossy, bright green leaves and is known for its vigorous growth and resilience.

Cherry laurel is known for its impressive fast growth, typically adding around 2 feet of height per year, making it ideal when you need quick results. This plant tolerates most soil conditions and weather, showing remarkable resilience in challenging environments. One of its greatest strengths is how responsive it is to pruning—you can cut it back quite hard and it will recover well, though this vigorous growth means it usually needs trimming 2-3 times per year to keep it looking neat. The large, glossy leaves create a bold, traditional hedge appearance that many people associate with classic English hedging.

Portuguese Laurel (Prunus lusitanica) 

Best for: Formal hedging, narrow spaces like driveways, and areas where minimal maintenance is preferred.

Portuguese laurel offers a more refined alternative with smaller, darker green leaves that are more pointed in shape, similar to bay tree leaves. While it grows more slowly than cherry laurel, it provides distinct advantages for certain situations.

The plant naturally develops a compact, upright habit that creates a denser appearance without becoming too wide. Its smaller, darker leaves give it an elegant appearance that many consider more refined and formal than cherry laurel. This neat growth pattern means it typically needs trimming only once per year, making it an excellent low-maintenance option. Portuguese laurel is particularly space-efficient, making it perfect for narrow areas like driveways where you need height but not width, and it clips into formal hedge shapes more readily than cherry laurel.

Other Types of Laurel Hedge Plants 

While Cherry Laurel and Portuguese Laurel are the most popular evergreen hedging plants in the UK, they're not the only shrubs commonly known as "laurel". The name actually refers to several different plant species, each with its own characteristic and intended use.

Within the two main hedging species, you'll also find cultivars such as Rotundifolia, Novita and Caucasica, which offer subtle differences in growth rate, leaf shape and hardiness. Beyond these, there are other types of laurel that are better suited to ornamental planting, topiary or containers rather than creating dense boundary hedges.

The table below compares some of the most common types of laurel bushes and where they perform best.

Rootballed Vs. Container Grown Laurel Plants

Rootballed Laurels (Available October - March)

Rootballed plants are dug up from the ground during their dormant season and offer excellent value for money. You can get larger, more established plants for your budget, and they're usually dense and well-shaped from professional trimming. These plants come with well-developed root systems that have been growing in the ground for several years, giving them a dense, mature appearance right from planting. You'll get an instant hedge effect rather than waiting years for small plants to fill out.

Container Grown Laurels (Available Year-Round)

While more expensive, container grown laurel plants offer the flexibility to plant at any time of year, which is particularly valuable if you've missed the winter planting season or need to complete a project during the growing season. Because their roots aren't disturbed during transplanting, they typically establish faster once planted and experience less transplant shock. This means you won't have the seasonal restrictions that come with root ball plants, giving you complete freedom in your planting schedule.

Unsure which is right for you? Read our full guide on the differences between bare-root, rootballed and container grown plants.

How to Plant Laurel Bushes Successfully 

Both types of laurel hedge plants are relatively easy to grow and don't require specialist knowledge to establish successfully into a dense evergreen hedge.

Planting Process

1. Dig a planting hole that's slightly wider than the root ball to allow the roots to spread comfortably.
2. Improve the soil by mixing in compost or well-rotted organic manure, particularly if your soil is sandy or lacking nutrients.
3. Position each plant so the top of the root ball sits level with the surrounding soil.
4. Backfill the hole, gently firming the soil around the roots to remove air pockets.
5. Water thoroughly after planting to help settle the soil.
6. Apply a layer of mulch around the base of the plants to retain moisture and suppress weeds, taking care to keep mulch away from the stems.
7. Continue watering regularly during the first growing season, especially during warm or dry weather, while the plants establish.
   

Essential Care Tips

1. Watering is crucial! Don’t just plant and forget – regular watering, especially during dry spells, is vital for establishment
2. Avoid heavy clay. Both varieties struggle in waterlogged or very heavy clay soils, which can cause yellowing leaves and poor growth
3. Ensure good drainage to prevent root problems
4. Feed your laurel hedge each spring with a balanced fertiliser to encourage healthy foliage and strong growth.
5. Prune established hedges once or twice a year to maintain their shape. Cherry Laurel generally requires more frequent trimming than Portuguese Laurel because of its faster growth rate.
6. Apply a layer of organic mulch each spring to help conserve moisture, suppress weeds and improve soil health.

Getting the Best Results

The key to success with any type of laurel hedge is proper timing and aftercare. If planting rootball plants, aim for autumn or winter installation rather than leaving it until spring. Both varieties will reward you with years of reliable growth and screening when given the right start.

Regular watering during the first year, annual feeding, and appropriate pruning will keep your laurel hedge healthy and attractive. With proper care, both cherry laurel and Portuguese laurel can provide decades of effective screening and privacy.

Whether you choose the fast-growing cherry laurel or the more refined Portuguese laurel, you'll have a hedge that provides year-round structure and screening for your garden while being relatively low maintenance once established.

High-Quality Laurel Hedging from Mathias Nurseries

Ready to get planting? Get started today and browse our extensive range of native laurel hedging plants. As a family-run business with knowledge built up over more than 60 years, our nursery production is carried out to the very highest standard of which we are incredibly proud.

For any further questions, please don’t hesitate to get in touch.