Enhance your garden with the charming 3ft-4ft (90cm-120cm) Cherry Laurel from Palm and Olive, an ideal choice for UK gardeners seeking a compact evergreen shrub to add structure, privacy, and year-round greenery to smaller spaces. Known scientifically as Prunus laurocerasus, this 3ft-4ft Cherry Laurel is a versatile addition to British landscaping, celebrated for its fast-growing nature, glossy green foliage, and adaptability as compact evergreen hedging for UK gardens. Perfect for low hedging, border edging, or container planting, this smaller-sized Cherry Laurel brings lush beauty and functionality to any garden, making it a top pick for those seeking low-maintenance evergreen shrubs for small gardens.
Origin and Heritage
The 3ft-4ft Cherry Laurel originates from the temperate regions surrounding the Black Sea, spanning southeastern Europe (Albania, Bulgaria) and southwestern Asia (Turkey, Caucasus Mountains, northern Iran). Since its introduction to Great Britain in the 17th century, it has become a favourite among UK gardeners due to its resilience and ability to thrive in our climate and diverse soil conditions, making it a reliable choice for compact evergreen hedging across the country.
Versatile Uses for UK Gardens
This 3ft-4ft Cherry Laurel offers a range of uses for UK gardens, blending practicality with aesthetic appeal. Its smaller stature makes it perfect for creating low hedging to define pathways, edge borders, or enclose garden beds, providing structure without overpowering smaller spaces. The glossy, dark green foliage ensures year-round interest, making it one of the best evergreen shrubs for small gardens in the UK. In spring, its delicate white flowers attract pollinators like bees and butterflies, while its autumn berries (red turning to black) draw birds, making it a wildlife-friendly garden shrub that enhances biodiversity. It’s also well-suited for container planting on patios or balconies, or as a low-maintenance accent in mixed borders, delivering versatility for modern UK gardeners.
Key Features
•Mature Size: 3ft-4ft (90cm-120cm) tall, perfect for low hedging or compact garden spaces.
•Growth Rate: Fast-growing at 30-60 cm per year, ideal for quick-establishing privacy or structure.
•Foliage: Glossy, evergreen leaves for continuous visual appeal in UK gardens.
•Flowers and Berries: Small white blooms in spring, followed by ornamental berries in autumn.
•Hardiness: Thrives in most UK conditions, tolerating frost, wind, and shade.
How to Care for Your 3ft-4ft Cherry Laurel
Caring for this 3ft-4ft Cherry Laurel is simple, making it a top choice for gardeners seeking low-maintenance compact evergreen hedging for UK gardens. Water regularly to keep the soil moist, especially during the first year after planting, but avoid waterlogging to prevent root issues. Prune in late spring or early summer after flowering to maintain its shape and encourage denser growth, using clean, sharp shears to remove any dead or damaged branches. Plant in well-drained soil, adaptable to clay, loam, or sandy conditions, and position in full sun to full shade—though it produces more flowers with some sunlight, making it ideal for both sunny and shaded spots. Apply a balanced, slow-release fertiliser in spring to promote healthy growth, particularly for newly planted shrubs. Note that all parts of the Cherry Laurel are toxic if ingested, so take care around children and pets and wear gloves when pruning to avoid skin irritation.
Growth Rate and Planting Tips
With a fast growth rate of 30-60 cm per year, this 3ft-4ft Cherry Laurel quickly establishes itself as a low hedge or garden feature, making it a popular choice for fast-growing privacy hedging in smaller UK gardens. For best results, plant in autumn to allow optimal root establishment before winter, though spring planting works with extra watering in warmer months. For low hedging, plant at 3-7 plants per metre for bare-root specimens, or 4-6 for cell-grown, in a staggered row for denser coverage, ensuring enough space for its spread. This evergreen shrub is perfect for edging pathways, lining borders, or planting in containers; however, avoid planting near woodlands to prevent potential invasiveness from seed dispersal by birds. Prepare the site by digging a trench twice the width of the root ball, mixing in organic compost, and ensuring good drainage for healthy root development.
Why Choose Palm and Olive’s 3ft-4ft Cherry Laurel?
At Palm and Olive, we’re committed to providing premium plants tailored for UK gardens. Our 3ft-4ft Cherry Laurel for sale is grown to a manageable size for smaller spaces, ensuring a healthy, well-rooted plant ideal for low hedging, edging, or ornamental planting. Sourced with UK gardeners in mind, it guarantees hardiness and adaptability to our climate, and it’s delivered with detailed care instructions to help you achieve stunning results with minimal effort.
Environmental Consideration
While the 3ft-4ft Cherry Laurel is an excellent garden plant, it can potentially become invasive in UK woodlands if not managed responsibly. Plant away from natural areas and monitor its spread to protect local ecosystems. When used thoughtfully as part of compact evergreen hedging for UK gardens, its benefits—such as low-maintenance care, wildlife attraction, and year-round beauty—far outweigh this concern.
Ready to enhance your garden with the 3ft-4ft Cherry Laurel? Achieve instant structure, evergreen elegance, and wildlife appeal with this compact beauty. Order now from Palm and Olive and enjoy fast UK delivery straight to your door. Don’t wait—shop today and start crafting your perfect garden with our premium Cherry Laurel hedging!