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Cottage Gardens

Carolina Cherry Laurel Screen

15 years ago

Somebody asked about an evergreen screen. Carolina Cherry Laurel is a native plant.

Here it forms a natural screen to the rear of the property behind the tree line.

Click to see the pretty entrance to the front of the screened property:

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Pictured is the species. There are more dwarf cultivars. I don't know how far north Carolina Cherry Laurel is evergreen.

"Prunus caroliniana is basically a leaf-browning or dieback shrub here unless protected from wind." Steve on NJ forum.

Nell

Here is a link that might be useful: More about Carolina Cherry Laurel from MSU Cares

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Comments (5)

spazzycat_1
15 years ago
I also grow this plant here in NC. It is a great screening shrub. We've unfortunately had some problems with the peach tree borer and young cherry laurels. Once you see the damage, it's typically too late to do anything about it. At that point, the shrub is already history. One really great thing about this plant is that it is quite tolerant of part shade and drought tolerant once established.
PRO
Nell Jean
Original Author
15 years ago
Spazzy cat, do you grow the species, or a named cultivar?

I've not noticed any damage -- these are bird planted and the maintenance is just keeping them out of the field and off the road by mowing. However, any prunus is subject to borers.

When the cherry laurels first started, they were severely damaged when the then owner of the property behind burned the stand of pines, and let the fire come on our side. The volatile oils in the cherry laurels were like fuel burning. More grew where they were too small to recover.

Thanks
Nell
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DYH
15 years ago
I grew those at a previous house where I lived in the woods. Grew well for me there. I've not tried those here in full sun (I use osmanthus fragrans instead).

Great border, Nell!
Cameron
spazzycat_1
15 years ago
I grow the species.
lvtgrdn
15 years ago
I'm a special education para-educator in a high school. One of the students I work with likes to look at magazines. We are working on her to push a button to say if she wants to read by herself, or a different on to have me read to her. I found some "Country, For Those Who Live in or Long for the Country" magazines at a garage sale and bought them for us today. Nell, I don't know if they still publish that magazine, but your photos could be in there! Awesome!

Sue

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