Introduction to Laurels

Laurels are among the most popular broadleaf evergreen shrubs used for hedging in Metro Vancouver and the Pacific Northwest. Their rapid growth, deep green foliage and ability to create tall, dense screens make them excellent choices for year round privacy. Whether you are looking to block a neighbouring view, outline a property boundary or build structure into your garden, laurels offer a versatile and reliable solution. In our region’s mild climate, they grow vigorously and respond well to regular pruning, making them a long term favourite for both home gardeners and landscapers.

This introduction focuses on the laurels most commonly used for evergreen hedges. English laurel and its cultivars provide fast, lush growth, while Portuguese laurel offers a refined look with excellent cold tolerance and tidy branching. Russian laurel provides another hardy, vigorous option, but is harder to find. Understanding the differences between these plants will help you choose the best one for your property and long term goals.

Understanding Laurels for Hedging

When gardeners talk about laurels for hedges, they are usually referring to species in the genus Prunus. These shrubs and small trees have glossy evergreen leaves, dense branching and strong adaptability, making them ideal screening plants. While they are all related, each type has its own characteristics that affect growth rate, width and suitability for specific spaces. In Metro Vancouver, all laurel species discussed here perform well thanks to our mild winters, moderate rainfall and long growing season.

English Laurel

English laurel (Prunus laurocerasus) is the most widely planted hedge laurel in the Pacific Northwest. It is known for its glossy, broad leaves, fast growth and ability to create tall, dense screens in a short time. A typical English laurel hedge can reach eight to twelve feet within a few years when properly planted and cared for. This makes it one of the most effective choices for instant privacy or blocking unwanted views.

English laurel thrives in full sun to partial shade and adapts easily to a range of soils, provided drainage is adequate. It is vigorous and forgiving, responding well to pruning throughout the growing season. Because of its strong growth, it will require regular trimming to maintain a formal shape or controlled height. For larger properties or areas where fast screening is needed, English laurel is an excellent choice.

Otto Luyken

Otto Luyken is a compact cultivar of English laurel that stays significantly lower and narrower than the species. With its smaller leaves and tidy habit, it is ideal for foundation planting, low hedges and mixed borders. It grows slowly compared to standard English laurel and typically reaches three to five feet in height. This makes it a popular choice for gardeners seeking the look of laurel in a manageable size. Otto Luyken performs well in both sun and shade and maintains an attractive, refined appearance year round.

Zabeliana Laurel

Zabeliana is a spreading form of English laurel that offers a unique alternative for low, wide hedging. It has long, narrow leaves and naturally grows in a broader, more horizontal pattern. Because it stays lower than the standard species but fills out quickly, it is excellent for wide borders, slopes or screening along driveways where height is not the main goal. Its strong structure and adaptability make it useful for shaping into low evergreen barriers that remain green and full throughout the year.

Russian Laurel

Russian laurel is a hardier selection of English laurel often listed under Prunus laurocerasus cultivars. It is valued for its resilience, dense branching and ability to tolerate colder temperatures better than some standard forms. Russian laurel creates a vigorous hedge with strong screening ability and responds well to pruning. It is a good option for exposed sites or gardens that experience more severe winter conditions. In Metro Vancouver, it performs reliably and provides an excellent evergreen wall when grown with proper spacing and care.

Newer Laurel Varieties: Mt. Etna and Mt. Vernon

In recent years, growers have introduced improved selections of English laurel aimed at offering more controlled growth habits, better winter performance and reliable structure. Two of the most noteworthy are ‘Mt. Etna’ and ‘Mt. Vernon’. Although they both fall within the Prunus laurocerasus group, they behave quite differently from the traditional tall hedge forms. These cultivars are excellent options for gardeners looking for evergreen structure without the height and aggressive growth of standard English laurels.

Prunus laurocerasus ‘Mt. Etna’

Mt. Etna is a compact, slow to moderate growing form of English laurel with a naturally rounded shape. Its leaves are smaller, thicker and often more glossy than the typical species. New growth tends to emerge a bronzy copper tone, offering a touch of seasonal colour before maturing to deep green. The plant maintains a dense branching structure, making it great for low hedges, foundation plantings and mixed borders.

Compared to standard English laurel, Mt. Etna stays much shorter and requires far less pruning. It typically reaches three to five feet over time and holds its foliage well through winter. In Metro Vancouver, it performs reliably in sun or part shade and handles pruning beautifully, making it a more manageable option for smaller spaces.

Prunus laurocerasus ‘Mt. Vernon’

Mt. Vernon is a ground hugging, spreading form of English laurel often used as a broadleaf evergreen groundcover. Unlike typical upright laurels, it grows outward rather than upward, forming a dense mat of glossy green leaves. It normally stays under two feet in height but can spread several feet wide over time, creating a smooth, polished evergreen carpet.

This variety is ideal for slopes, erosion control, wide borders and areas where a low, low maintenance evergreen presence is needed. Mt. Vernon is particularly good at suppressing weeds due to its thick foliage and can be used as a more refined alternative to standard groundcover shrubs. As with other laurels, it adapts well to sun or part shade and grows reliably in our Pacific Northwest climate.

Portuguese Laurel

Portuguese laurel (Prunus lusitanica) is a more refined and elegant alternative to English laurel. While slightly slower growing, it forms a dense, beautifully textured hedge with smaller dark green leaves and attractive red stems on new growth. Portuguese laurel is naturally tidier and more upright, making it ideal for gardens that need a polished and formal look. It handles shaping very well and maintains a consistent structure with moderate pruning.

Portuguese laurel thrives in sun or part shade and is more tolerant of drought once established than English laurel. It is also more resistant to winter damage, making it a dependable choice for long term hedging in a variety of exposures. Because it grows slightly narrower, it is especially useful in urban settings where space is limited, yet a tall, elegant screen is desired.

Planting Laurels

Laurels establish best in well drained soil enriched with compost or organic matter. Dig a wide hole, loosen the roots gently and set the plant so the root ball is level with the surrounding soil. Adding BoneMeal into the hole is recommended. After planting, water thoroughly and apply a two to three inch layer of mulch, keeping it away from the main stem. Proper spacing is essential for a long lasting hedge. English laurel and Russian laurel are typically spaced three to five feet apart depending on desired density, while Portuguese laurel is often planted two to four feet apart for a refined, uniform screen. Use a liquid transplant fertilizer while watering for the first couple of months to aide root growth.

Caring for Laurel Hedges

Laurels appreciate even moisture, especially during their first few years. Water deeply during dry summer periods to promote strong root growth. Once established, most laurels are drought tolerant but still benefit from occasional deep watering in extended dry spells. Apply a balanced slow release fertilizer in spring to support healthy foliage and even growth. Mulching helps regulate moisture and maintain vigorous plants.

Pruning Laurels

Pruning is an important part of keeping laurel hedges dense and attractive. English laurel grows quickly and may need several trims per season if a formal shape is desired. Portuguese laurel grows more slowly and often requires only one or two prunings a year. Laurels can be pruned lightly to maintain shape or more firmly to reduce size. They respond well to regular shearing and will push new growth to fill gaps. For formal hedges, prune in late spring and again in early fall to maintain crisp lines throughout the year.

Common Issues and Solutions

Laurels are generally hardy in our climate, but occasionally they may show stress. Brown leaves or dropping foliage can result from drought, poor drainage or winter cold. Ensuring proper soil preparation and consistent watering during establishment helps prevent most issues. Powdery mildew may appear in shaded, damp areas but usually clears with improved airflow and selective thinning cuts. Scale insects can also appear but are manageable with horticultural oils or pruning out affected sections.

Other Plants Called “Laurels”

Several plants carry the name “laurel” even though they are not closely related to English or Portuguese laurels. These plants can cause confusion for gardeners, especially when searching for hedge material. While they are valuable in the landscape, they do not behave like true hedging laurels in the Prunus group.

Mountain Laurel

Mountain laurel (Kalmia latifolia) is a broadleaf evergreen shrub native to North America, prized for its intricate spring flowers and glossy foliage. Although its name suggests a connection to hedging laurels, it belongs to a completely different plant family. Mountain laurel prefers acidic soil and partial shade, similar to rhododendrons, and is grown primarily for ornamental flowering rather than screening. It is not used as a hedge plant in the Pacific Northwest.

Bay Laurel

Bay laurel (Laurus nobilis) is best known as the source of culinary bay leaves. It is an attractive evergreen tree or shrub with dark, aromatic leaves and a naturally upright form. While it can be pruned into a small hedge or topiary, it is less hardy than English or Portuguese laurel and may suffer in colder winters. In Metro Vancouver, bay laurel is best grown in sheltered locations or containers and is used more as a speciality plant than a privacy hedge.

Aucuba

Aucuba (Aucuba japonica) is sometimes called “spotted laurel” due to its glossy leaves and variegated yellow patterns. Although it tolerates deep shade and adds bright colour to woodland gardens, it is not a true laurel and grows more loosely than hedge laurels. Aucuba is excellent for filling shaded areas, underplanting and adding texture, but it does not form a structured hedge.